Visa application for baby.

[EOTD]

This application is being made in the UK (CVASC Manchester)

 

I am completely lost and I hope this is the right place to ask this. 

 

I am in the possess of applying for Q1 Visas for me and my children to visit my wife's' family in China. This is the second time I applied and I'm having problems regarding my baby. After I sent the forms, I got a call from the centre asking me for documentation (that I could not find on the website/forms) for my baby. This was not a problem and had sent what they had asked for within the hour (this was Friday). About two hours ago the Centre called me again regarding my baby. This time it was to say that I could not use their services for her application as she is under 8 months old and I would need to go through the Consulate General of China personally. 

 

From what I got from the call, they want me to go to the Centre, pick up the paperwork regarding me and my baby, take it to the Consulate, apply for her visa through the Consulate, once completed take my paperwork back to the Centre and have my visa completed (all in the same day).

 

The problem I have is with the language barrier with the person I spoke to on the phone. When I was on the phone to them, I did ask whether my wife needs to be there? Do I need originals of documents/passports? Where the Consulate is located in relation to the CVASC? I did not get a clear answer from the person I spoke to. I have tried to contact them again, but no one is answering (both CVASC and Consulate).

 

During the whole application, I did not come across anything about this on the websites. 

 

If anyone can give me some input regarding this situation, that would be great! 

 

 

[889]

The consulate always reserves the right to ask for a personal interview, and that seems to be what's happening here. I wouldn't regard it as a harbinger of trouble; it's probably just standard procedure for that consulate when issuing visas to infants. In any event, different consulates have different policies so what happens elsewhere isn't too relevant.

[EOTD]

 

 

The consulate always reserves the right to ask for a personal interview, and that seems to be what's happening here. I wouldn't regard it as a harbinger of trouble; it's probably just standard procedure for that consulate when issuing visas to infants. In any event, different consulates have different policies so what happens elsewhere isn't too relevant. 

 

Thank you, that makes sense. If I was told the main purpose is for an interview, I'd be a little less worried. The only problem I have now is how to get there.   

[wahunei]

hi did you get visa, i am in the process of going to china with family, when i went to embassy they told me that for the Child  visa will be issued from china. It seems like a tough work, share with me if you have a similar story. 

[Lu]

The only problem I have now is how to get there.

You mean how to get to Manchester, or how to get to the Consulate? The address of the consulate is easily found by googling, as is the address of the visa center. I assume you know best how to get around within Manchester. Not sure how far they are from each other, but even with bad traffic this should be doable in a day, or half a day if everything goes smoothly. Or if you can, ask the visa center to send you the paperwork first, saving you one trip there.

 

As to what paperwork to bring: For applying for visa, I've found that it's best to take everything you can think of, plus copies of everything you bring. They'll pick out the things they want.

[EOTD]

 

 

You mean how to get to Manchester, or how to get to the Consulate? The address of the consulate is easily found by googling, as is the address of the visa center. I assume you know best how to get around within Manchester. Not sure how far they are from each other, but even with bad traffic this should be doable in a day, or half a day if everything goes smoothly. Or if you can, ask the visa center to send you the paperwork first, saving you one trip there.

 

It's just travelling and finding the places that can be a bother sometimes. 

 

I have just arrived back from Manchester. It turns out that my baby needs to have Travel Documents from the Embassy. I'm just annoyed because I now have to go again, as I need to have my wife and child with me (I did ask if they need to be with me when I was first told about this, but I was told just to go myself   ). Anyway, now I know what to do !

 

[imron]

Make sure to come and write a follow up post once everything's sorted, and then future readers will know what to do also!

[EOTD]

 

 

Make sure to come and write a follow up post once everything's sorted, and then future readers will know what to do also! 

 

 

Just got back for Manchester. I'll tell you everything I know to help others. 

 

This situation regards apply for visitation visas (Q1) With one partner holding a Chinese passport and settlement visa. With the children being born in the UK, holding UK passports. 

 

From my experience, If you wish to travel to china and you have a child under 8 months of age, you cannot get a visa for them. You must apply for Travel Documents directly from your local Chinese embassy.

I needed to bring the following documentation when I applied 

 

3x photographs of the child in question.

Original passport of mother, farther and child

Photocopy of all passports, Child's Birth Certificate with mothers and farther name (original was not required), and current Visas (if applicable).

 

My wife was required to complete an application form and a declaration form. The declaration for was only available in Chinese, I was asked to write something in English myself on the same form to the same extent of what was put in Chinese. This is what I wrote and they where fine with it:

 

The documents I have provided are true. I understand that providing false information will result in court action. I agree that my child (name, gender,D.O.B) is allowed to apply for Chinese Travel Documents.

 

MOTHER, FATHER AND CHILD HAVE TO GO TO THE EMBASSY WHEN APPLYING! This is so the embassy can check the paperwork and take a photo of the applicants together.

 

Once done, you will get a receipt dated for a week later so you can pay/pick up the Travel Documents. When you do travel to china you will have to provide the Travel Documents and the passports at check points. The Travel Documents are valid for two years and have unlimited use during that time. A visa is not needed while you have a valid Travel Document.   

[imron]

Thanks for the follow up!

[889]

So just to be clear, the child will be travelling to China not as a UK citizen on a UK passport but as a Chinese citizen on a Chinese travel document?

Presumably this situation arose because your wife held Chinese citizenship when the child was born.

[EOTD]

 

 

So just to be clear, the child will be travelling to China not as a UK citizen on a UK passport but as a Chinese citizen on a Chinese travel document?

Presumably this situation arose because your wife held Chinese citizenship when the child was born.

 

I know it's confusing, but me and my wife asked them about this and we keep getting told that this is correct procedure. I had a lovely chat with the receptionist at the CVASC about why there was nothing about this on the visa website, she said that : "They say that as it is a embassy issue and not a visa issue, they have no reason to mention it on the website as it's not their department." And she gave me the look of "you have not been the first one caught out on this". 

 

My wife is still a Chinese citizen (as I said, she is on a settlement visa ATM) and the first time we got visas to china our first child just hit two years old. So the visa application for her was the same for me.

 

We are not sure what rules or regulations we have fallen under as we have not been given a clear answer.

 

The visa people say: "Your child is too young. You have to deal with the Embassy, we cannot help you."

 

The Embassy say: "Do this. Return this. Sign this. Pay this. Don't ask questions!" 

 

I know it sounds like I'm being a little hard on the Embassy, but me nor my wife couldn't get a straight answer out of them about why we need to have a Travel Document for a child who is under 8 months old? My wife was puzzled on why they where vague or dismissive to her questions. When I returned my passport to the visa centre (I still need mine), I had to assure them that I have sorted the Travel Documents out for my youngest child. I asked again for reassurance that "My daughter does NOT require a visa, but a Travel Document and her UK passport in order for me to take her to china because of her age?" and they said "Yes". 

[gato]

For Chinese law purposes, your child is a Chinese citizen because the mother is a Chinese citizen. That's why a travel permit (旅行证) instead of a visa is needed.

Since your child is also a UK citizen, it's what the Chinese government calls a "conflict of citizenship" situation. It applies to everyone under age of 18 with dual citizenship (Chinese and non-Chinese). A Chinese visa cannot be issued to a Chinese citizen. Your child will need to have a travel permit to enter and exit China before age of 18.

After the age of 18, your child will have to choose between Chinese and UK citizenship under Chinese law. The Chinese government does not allow dual citizenship for adults. Using the UK passport to enter China (applying for a Chinese visa) after that point will result in automatic loss of Chinese citizenship.

There is also a procedure to renounce a child's Chinese citizenship before age of 18, but apparently the process is quite tedious and takes about a year. See link below:

http://www.aibaimm.com/thread-160801-1-1.html

能放弃 办理时间确实需要一年左右 需要准备一些材料 可以从出入境管理处的网站下载 据派出所的干警说 目前成功办理退籍的北京人有一千多

[EOTD]

This never came up when I got a visa for my first child.

[gato]

How long was that? So your first child is not a Chinese citizen then?

[EOTD]

Both of my children have been born in the UK. My first one just turned two when we got the visa.  

[gato]

The Chinese Embassy has a helpful chart about determining whether one's child born in the UK has automatically acquired Chinese citizenship.  See below.

 

Your child's Chinese citizenship depends on whether your wife is considered to have "permanent residency" in the UK.

If she has "permanent residency" in the UK, then your child would NOT gain Chinese citizenship.

But if she does NOT have "permanent residency" in the UK, then your child would automatically gain Chinese citizenship.

 

http://www.chinese-embassy.org.uk/chn/lsfw/hzlxz/zyxx/t1249113.htm

[EOTD]

Looking at this (thanks for the link) makes me think. By what it says, I should of been ask to get a Travel Document for my first child when I first applied for a visa as the situation is the same now as it was back then. 

 

 

HOLY CRAP I THINK I JUST GOT WHAT HAPPENED!!!!!!!!

 

While I was typing the sentence above, like a flash of lightning I remembered what happened! When I first applied there was a delay and time was running out before I had to travel. With the leaving date approaching ever closing, I called the Visa Centre and asked them what was going on? They said that they had misplaced my application and had to look for it. I got a call the next day and they wanted to assure me that my visas where now done and I would get them the next day (I did).

 

Looking at the chart, I would've had no choice but to go through the the Embassy for my first child, but as they had misplaced my paperwork and it would have been IMPOSSIBLE for us to do apply for travel documents. As it was the Visa Centre at fault, they must've just given the visa to my first child to bypass the embassy. As she got the visa in the past, she go's through the same possess as me this time. 

[petehull]

I realize this is from ages ago, but I am in the same situation right now. Did you just turn up at the embassy or have to book an appointment? The lack of information online is astounding

[panxiaojing]

For Travel Document, you need to book an appointment through an online booking system, where you submit the application form and select an appointment time.