Recent Guangzhou DCFs - how long to get passport back

[MeAndMrD 0]

Hey, can recent Guangzhou DCF filers help me out? I'm trying to book my husband's plane ticket to the US. I don't want to wait until the interview date because then it will obviously be ridiculously expensive plus not many tickets available. Also I want him here ASAP! Before Halloween! They've been surprisingly fast with some stuff but I can't find GUZ-specific info on visa processing times.

How long did you have to wait from the interview until you could pick up the passport with visa inside?

[RobBell 32]

We were K-1 but I imagine the processing time is the same? Lili interviewed on Aug 12th, the visa was issued on Aug 15th, and we received it around the 20th.

I waited until after the approval and bought a ticket for the 28th, which was still a gamble, but worked out for us.

Edited September 17, 2013 by Rob & Lili

[MeAndMrD 0]

Thanks! Did you wait in Guangzhou? I mean, did you choose a Guangzhou citic bank? We chose one closer to Shanghai, I wonder if that will make the mailing time longer. You just never know with the mail in China!

[RobBell 32]

Yes we chose the Citic bank location closest to the Consulate. She actually lives in a sub-district and we could have had it delivered there. But she was just a short train ride away and thought it might be quicker that way.

[Big Baby 11]

I bought tickets more than once and lost thousands of dollars. Once was after the initial approval following the interview at the Embassy. Even the (white sheet) "Congratulations, you are approved!" approval notice recommends you wait. Agree in hindsight - recommend you wait until after your fiancee receives visa in hand. The expensive travel season is summer. Now that summer is over, prices are beginning to come down and will continue to fall over the next month or two.

[MeAndMrD 0]

Wow I just looked at your timeline, looks like you had every timing problem one could possibly have!!! That must have been terrible, I'm glad you guys got through it.

That's a good point about the travel season, better safe than sorry, I don't have thousands to throw around right now I just threw enough to GUZ for all the fees for this process! We were also based in Chengdu, sucks that they couldn't handle it there, would have been a LOT cheaper.

[RobBell 32]

Of course the safest way is to wait for visa in hand. But once the visa status goes to "issued" it means all the paperwork has been cleared and its just a matter of delivery. If you're going to take a chance this might be the time to do it.

We booked when we did because we found a really inexpensive flight which wouldn't have been there had we waited. Its just a matter or balancing the risk versus the reward.

As I mentioned many other people got stung by booking the ticket early. But most of those were people who scheduled the flight even before the interview.

[Darnell 8,479]

I say 2 to 3 weeks after visa issuance date.

Good Luck with the interview !

[Godsdaughter 3]

I already booked ticket 7days after interview.Is it too early?I was wondering when to choose where to pick up visa?And where to see visa status?thanks

[MeAndMrD 0]

The officer at his interview said "about two weeks." I didn't book the ticket yet because this time of year is low travel season, there are still reasonably priced flights.

How does the consulate notify you that the visa is done processing, email? And how does the CITIC bank contact you to pick up the passport?

[Darnell 8,479]

passport tracking is at the ustraveldocs site. visa status is at the ceac website.

I've some tracking topic recently, over at

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/458853-passport-tracking-after-approval/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/458853-passport-tracking-after-approval/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/458853-passport-tracking-after-approval/

and there's some urls there you might want to review, nowish.

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Moved from DCF General Discussion to China Regional Forum~

~Inquiry is Guangzhou-specific~

[lostinblue 1,989]

Until you have the passport in hand it is a gamble . It could be a lot more $$$ if you have a delay. and cannot use the flight. Some people it could be a few weeks. before it arrives. You could just wait until you receive it and then wait a week or two to get a fair airfare price. NOT what you want to hear, but many people have lost money by being too quick in the purchase,

[MeAndMrD 0]

FYI passport issued 3 business days after approval. Also don't be afraid to check with the bank! He was able to go to the central branch and pick it up after asking at the local one. All those status checkers suck, as usual in China going in person is the best method ;P