Here's my visa experience to date...
Today at around 10am, Thursday (11 April) I submitted my visa application form. Lucky for me it only took less than 10 minutes to drive to the Chinese consulate. It was a little tricky to find.. it was across the street from where I'd thought it would be. Parking wasn't that great... I spent around 5 minutes driving around looking for parking and finally found 2 hour parking on 4th street.. opposite some recreation park.
I walked a block to a building with a large fulan gong protest sign in front of it. But that was 501 Shatto Place so I crossed the street over to 500 Shatto Place. Went up to the third floor and walked into the room directly in front of the elevator. There were two lines in the room. The line closest to the door was really long... like 50 - 60 people but that was the visa pick up line. The line I wanted was the line on the other side of the room with around 25 people. Before I got in line I grabbed a visa application which was against the wall immediately to the left of the entrance. I filled it out while waiting in line and paper clipped my passport photo to the form. A little under 30 minutes it was my turn to go to the window and I handed her my application and passport and she filled out a receipt, kept my passport, handed me the receipt and told me it would be ready by next Tuesday and I would pay then.
So next Tuesday I'm bringing a book with me... and hopefully the line will be less than 2 hours long.
**Edit**
It's next Tuesday and I arrived at the consulate at a little after 9am with my book on Marx in hand. Before I got to the part where the proletariets revolt it was my turn to shell out $75 bucks and receive my passport/visa. By 9:30am I was back in my car and on my way home.
Don't forget your pink slip![Edit by="rcruz on May 16, 10:55:14 AM"][/Edit]
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