Start with the child’s history
Tell us the child’s age, birthplace, citizenship, previous Chinese visas or travel documents, and each parent’s nationality and residence status when the child was born. These facts help identify which records need review.
Some children need a nationality assessment before choosing a visa or a Chinese travel document. We can help organize the records, but cannot decide nationality or promise which document the consulate will issue.
Organize three separate document groups
| Group | Prepare for our document review | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Child | Current passport, birth certificate, previous Chinese visa and the passport containing it, or prior travel document if applicable | Establish the child’s identity and application history. |
| Parents / guardians | Current passports, residence evidence, and relevant records of nationality or residence at the child’s birth | Connect family identity with the historical facts needed for the case. |
| Inviter, for a qualifying family visit | Invitation and the inviter’s identity/status records in China | Explain who is being visited and the basis of the family visit. |
The current San Francisco checklist specifically addresses first-time applicants under 16. It asks for a birth certificate and additional historical parent records when either or both parents listed were born in China. The exact upload and original requirements depend on the case.
Our preparation checklist may ask for more context than the published minimum so we can identify gaps before submission. We explain what must be uploaded and what should simply be kept available.
Current documents and historical documents are different
A parent’s current U.S. passport may show today’s status but not their status on the child’s birth date. Label historic and current records separately. If using a residence card to explain the birth-date timeline, include both sides and make sure the dates are legible.
Do not decide the child’s eligibility from the color or validity length of a card alone. If a parent’s record is unavailable, a name has changed, or custody/guardianship is different from the usual situation, raise it before filling in the form.
Grandparents are not substitutes for the parents’ records
For a family-visit application, grandparents in China may be the inviters. Their invitation and ID describe the visit. The parents’ passports and relevant residence history describe the child’s family and nationality background. One set does not replace the other.
Choose the category from the actual trip. A tourist application and a family-visit application are not interchangeable just because the traveler is a child. See the family-visit guide and tourist guide.
Keep each family member’s file separate
- One checklist per traveler. Parents and children can need different records even for the same trip.
- Label shared information. Keep host, address, and travel dates consistent without copying someone else’s passport or history.
- Track each application. One family member reaching the passport stage does not mean everyone has.
- Confirm every original at handoff. Agree which documents are being handed over and the return arrangements.
Our service fee is paid after visa and passport return. Ask for the family quote and any special-case scope before starting. Read the payment policy.
Request a family checklist
Send the number of travelers, children’s ages, residence, citizenship, travel purpose, and target dates. Mention previous Chinese passports, travel documents, or visas. Keep identity numbers and document images out of the public form; we will send private upload instructions.
Download the general Washington planning checklist or its 中文版本.
Sources and review date
Service arrangements are provided by Seattle Chinese Visa LLC. Consular requirements were checked September 20, 2026. Follow current official instructions for your individual case.
Start with your travel plan
Tell us your residence, citizenship, travel purpose, and target dates. We will explain the scope and preparation checklist. Do not include passport numbers or document images in the public inquiry form.
Request an initial assessment