Average Passport return time

[roxer 3]

Since my fiancée's interview is Jan 29 and we need to start looking at buying plane tickets, what is a reasonable timeframe to expect pickup of her passport and package to CITIC? Would getting tickets for mid March be too soon? What should we expect?

Thanks - roxer

[Darnell 8,479]

we've a topic in the china forum about this - have a read, when yer able, and pitch in with yer dates.

[roxer 3]

I can re-post this there if you require. I'm just looking for a time frame to buy plane tickets.

[Darnell 8,479]

i think your posit of march flight for late jan interview is ok,

barring no issues with the casefile learned on interview day.

i was just asking you to check in with that topic, post yer raw data there as things move along after interview day.

you can also read about what happened to other folk, prior to today,

and ultimately - you can check timelines in the china portal, flipping to expanded mode, seeing the timeticks after interview day.

[Daveykins 17]

Our interview was back in August. We didn't get the passport back until September 6th if I remember right. Check my timeline for my info. Figure at least a month to get the passport back. If you want it back sooner specify the return location to one of the 3 locations on the CGIS site that you book the appointment on. It'll be returned about a week quicker if you select one of those main hub banks. Hope this helps.

[roxer 3]

I got you Darnell, will do. After she passes her interview, I'll snag the tickets. Her CITIC drop off point for her passport package in Shanghai is two blocks away from her apartment. Can't get much better than that.

[Pitaya 2,577]

My wife and stepson got their passports, with inserted visa, in the mail in northern China about a week after the interview in Guangzhou (~1,200 miles). They settled up their affairs and arrived in Seattle a month later.

Good luck with the upcoming travel.

[roxer 3]

Just not sure how Chinese New Year will play into this. Most places shut down for a week or more. The offical holiday is only 3 days, but...

[Darnell 8,479]

do did say MARCH for travel. IMO, you've enough lead time, barring any problems on interview day that require OTHER documents, and including the holidays during February by the Consulate, CGI/Stanley and CITIC Bank Courier and CITIC Bank (the 4 players in this shuffling of passport and visa packet game)