Notice on Appointment for Visa Application Submission (AVAS) 2023-03-06

As of March 13, 2023, after filling out the “China Visa Online Filling Form (COVA)” (https://cova.mfa.gov.cn/ ), visa applicants (or agents) need to log on to the website https://avas.mfa.gov.cn/ “Appointment for Visa Application Submission (AVAS)”, and make appointments for on-site submission at the Visa Office of the Consulate-General to submit the physical visa application documents. AVAS website appointment function will open as of March 8 , 2023.

The physical application documents can be submitted to the Visa Office at the appointed time by the visa applicant or by an agent with the printed “AVAS Confirmation” page. If the applicants (or agents) are unable to be present at the Visa Office at the appointed time, they must log on to the website “Appointment for Visa Application Submission (AVAS)” to cancel the appointment at least 1 business day in advance. Otherwise, the COVA Application ID and the AVAS Appointment Number will be invalidated. The applicant needs to fill in a new COVA form and make another appointment on AVAS. For other matters on applying for a Chinese visa, please refer to the following website: http://sanfrancisco.china-consulate.gov.cn/zytz/202301/t20230117_11009747.htm

自2023年1月8日中国政府进一步优化复工复产、商务、留学、探亲、团聚等外籍人士赴华安排，中国驻旧金山总领馆签证受理量持续增加。我馆已采取增加人手、优化受理流程、提高工作效率等措施尽可能满足申请人需求。
为更好满足当前形势下签证申请需求，进一步优化服务，自2023年3月13日起，我馆对签证申请实行在线预约。申请人在完成填写“中国签证在线填表（COVA）”（https://cova.mfa.gov.cn/）后，请即登录“中国签证申请在线预约系统(AVAS)https://avas.mfa.gov.cn/，预约申请人或代办人到我馆领事证件大厅现场递交签证申请材料的时间。“中国签证申请在线预约（AVAS）”系统将于2023年3月8日开放预约功能。
自2023年3月13日起，申请人或代办人在预约时间，持打印的预约凭证到证件大厅递交申请材料。如遇特殊情况无法按预约时间现场递交申请，须至少提前一个工作日前往“中国签证申请在线预约（AVAS）”系统取消原有预约,否则按失约处理，已有申请编号将被作废，需重新填写《签证申请表》并再次进行新的预约。
如您没有紧急或特殊事由必须近期赴华，建议避开当前签证申请高峰，合理安排申请时间。原有效多年多次签证恢复使用后，您仍可持用该签证赴华。
如您确有办理紧急人道事由签证的需求，除基本申请材料外，还需提交病情危重通知书或死亡证明、危重病人或死者的身份证件（如中国身份证或外国人护照个人信息页等）复印件、亲属关系证明等，以上申请材料通过电邮发送至sf_visa@csm.mfa.gov.cn。邮件标题须为“紧急签证+居住州+申请人姓名+护照号码”（请注意：如邮件标题不符合要求、证明材料缺失，有关申请将无法处理）。对符合条件的申请，我馆将回复邮件予以指导，提供紧急办证便利。
申办签证的其他事项，请参阅我馆网站以下衔接：http://sanfrancisco.china-consulate.gov.cn/zytz/202301/t20230117_11009747.htm