The actual application is only a few pages long. It must be typed in all capital letters in black ink. There must be no errors, no handwritten corrections, or it will be rejected.
The other 1.5 pounds of paper, or ten hours of time if you’re doing it all online, comes from the rest of the required information. Among other things, you will need to supply:
You read number 11 correctly. You must send in your passport to have the visa placed directly into it. In addition, your passport must have at least six months left before its expiration from the time that you will leave China. If you are planning a year in advance, your passport will need to have at least eighteen months left before expiration.
Though the turnaround time is supposed to be less than two weeks, leave plenty of time to receive your passport with attached visa back in the mail before your trip. I’d recommend sending your application out no later than twelve weeks before your trip begins.
PRO TIPS: The application will offer a standard visa good for six months. For about the same cost, you can get a ten-year visa. Check OTHER on the visa application section that offers the six-month option and type in ten-year visa in the explanation section below it.
If you intend to visit Hong Kong as an extension of your China trip, opt to visit AFTER your mainland China tour is completed. Placing Hong Kong at the end of your trip will avoid additional tourist visa requirements for China.