Title: Chinese Consulate in San Francisco, CA
Preparation: Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China in San Francisco, CA Address: 1450 Laguna St, San Francisco, CA 94115 http://www.chinaconsulatesf.org/eng/lszj/t42285.htm 1. The Visa Office is open 9:00a.m.--2:30p.m.(no lunch break), Monday to Friday, and closed on weekends and holidays. 2. Visa office: the entrance to the Visa office is on the Geary Blvd. ( From the main office, walk up north to the first traffic light, turn right and walk 1/2 block.). Passport renew, travel document also need to use this entrance. 3. For passport renews, you need to book the time slot online a couple of months in advance. It depends on how many people have already booked in the system. It only takes about 100 appointments a day. After you put all the required information, you can print out the form. When you apply for travel document or passport renew, 3 steps: a. Make an appointment online ==> b. Go to the consulate in person on the appointment date ==> c. Wait about 2 to 3 weeks to pickup ( or mail). 4. If you are a Chinese Citizen and your child was born in USA and is younger than 16 years old, they need to have travel document for visiting China. Both the mother, the father as parents and the child need to go to the consulate in person to be interviewed on the appointment date. For how to apply visas, travel documents and passport renews, etc. See http://www.chinaconsulatesf.org/chn/qianzhen/fzlxz/t1236584.htm
Attractions and activities: Tips: 1. Although you book the slot online, the time you arrive there and get into the line really matters. 2. Wait in the entrance line until the security guard lets you in. Get a ticket number after you select what you plan to do, such as apply for a visa, renew passports, etc. 3. Then wait in the photo booth line if you need to take a passport or travel document photo. Remember for a passport or travel document, you need to take photos in the booth of the consulate. When you are in the booth, remember to adjust the height of the seat to match your head level within the head image frame. Prepare 10 dollar bills in case the credit card cannot go through. Outside pictures will not be counted if the online uploading validation fails. 4. Prepare quarters in case you need to copy your document inside of the consulate. It's better to prepare one or two copies of your original passport, visas, or green card in advance so you can save your time and stress. 5. After you get the photo and have the online appointment form ready, wait in the Check-In line. The officer in the front desk will help you to check the documents and ask you to sign several forms in front of him or her. This is important. They will help you to get the documents in order and be ready to be processed quickly when you talk with the visa officer in the window after your number is called.
Commute: 1. Japan Center Garage: 1610 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94115 The Garage open all day until 2;30am. It only charge $2/hour. If you park there, you don't need to worry about to move your car every 2 hours if you park on the street. It's only 3 to 5 minutes walking distance to the consulate. In my opinion, this is the BEST choice. 2. If you take Bart to get there, you can get off Powell station and take the exit to Powell street, pass the Ellis, O'Farrel st, then turn left to Geary st., walk about 1.2 mile and you will reach the entrance of the consulate office. It will take you about 24 minutes or so. 3. If you drive there and park on the streets near the Consulate, remember to steer the front wheels to block in the case you park on the downhill or uphill, otherwise you may get citation ticket. Please also check if it only allows for 2 hour parking. Uphill: When headed uphill at a curb, turn the front wheels away from the curb and let your vehicle roll backwards slowly until the rear part of the front wheel rests against the curb using it as a block. Downhill: When you stop your car headed downhill, turn your front wheels toward the curb.