1. Background to the establishment of the Visa Centre
China’s rapid opening up in recent years, amid the ongoing globalization process, has led to a remarkable increase in its people-to-people exchanges with other countries, creating a great demand for Chinese visas.
Chinese Embassies and Consulates General have been working hard to improve the quality of their visa services, however, with limited staff and available space, many have become overwhelmed with the increasing quantity of visa applications.
In recent years, many countries facing such problems have chosen to introduce the Visa Application Service Centre system offering a wider range of more efficient services to visa applicants. Chinese Embassies and Consulates General handling a large quantity of visa applications in certain key countries decided to follow this trend.
Up to now, dozens of Chinese Visa Application Service Centres have been thus established in Europe, Asia, Oceania, North America and Africa to provide quality Chinese visa services.
2．What the centre offers
The Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (hereinafter referred to as the “Visa Centre”) is a commercial service organization registered in accordance with local laws and regulations, recognized and entrusted by a Chinese Embassy or Consulate-General to handle the daily routine work of processing ordinary visa applications. However, it operates independently of diplomatic missions and is neither a branch nor an affiliated organ. The main services are:
(1) To receive visa applicants and ensure their application documents meet Chinese Government requirements for smooth processing in the various visa categories.
(2) To provide applicants with intermediate business services, including computer entry of basic information, and transmission of the passport, visa, and other application documents between the Chinese Embassy or Consulate General and the applicant.
(3) To collect visa fees, whether for normal, express or rush service in accordance with the requirements of a Chinese Embassy or Consulate General and, on their behalf, deliver the passport and visa to the applicant.
(4) To release visa information in a timely manner, answer customer inquiries and provide assistance through the Visa Centre’s website, information desk, telephone, and e-mail.
(5) To provide the applicant with other necessary services in accordance with requirements of a Chinese Embassy or Consulate General.
3. How the Centre Benefits Visa Applicants
(1) GOOD LOCATION: In order to provide applicants with a welcoming environment and easy access, the Visa Centres are usually located in top-grade commercial buildings in convenient locations in major cities of each host country.
(2) FULL USE OF NETWORK TECHNOLOGY: The Visa Centres have their own websites providing up-to-date online information, online consultation, online form completion and online visa application status query services.
(3) STEPS TO REDUCE WAITING TIMES: In order to ensure efficient application processing and promote quality service, the Visa Centres normally use an online appointment system and queuing ticket machines installed in their reception areas. This is especially helpful in ensuring that waiting times are short even during peak application periods.
(4) CUSTOMER-ORIENTED: The Visa Centres work hard to be fully focused on applicants needs. In order to facilitate the reception and processing of applications, they open sufficient windows providing quality service. In the reception lobby, there is a receptionist responsible for guiding applicants and providing on-site consulting services; special windows are also provided for travel agencies and physically challenged applicants. A VIP room is designed for distinguished guests or other applicants with special needs. In addition, applicants can obtain all kinds of visa information from leaflets and posters as well as enjoy visa consultation services through telephone, fax, and mail.
(5) CONSTANT MONITORING: Through a Visa Application Processing & Integrated Service Platform, the operation and management centre can monitor all Visa Centres’ operations and services in real time so as to provide rapid technical support and handle operational emergencies as well as service quality monitoring.
4. Operating
Company of the Visa Centre
The Center is operated by CITS V SERVICE (SWITZERLAND) AG and its operation conforms strictly with the relevant laws of the Switzerland.
5. Trademarks of the Centre
and
)are trademarks legally approved and registered in Switzerland, and are
under the protection of the relevant laws and regulations of Switzerland. Any
infringement on the owner’s exclusive right to use the aforementioned
trademarks in any way is strictly prohibited.”
While providing you with high quality services, the Centre kindly
reminds you to carefully read the Terms and
Conditions before submitting an application.
