Because my passport is about to expire, I applied for a replacement Chinese passport during the pandemic. Here I am sharing my experience and tutorial with everyone, as it seems quite a few friends have the need to replace their passports.
The basic process of replacing a Chinese passport during the pandemic is as follows:
- Email the local embassy to provide the reason for the passport replacement.
- Provide basic identity confirmation information.
- After the embassy confirms you can proceed, provide the required documents and Chinese passport photo.
- Mail the documents, and after the embassy receives them, complete video authentication via Zoom.
- Receive your new passport in two to three weeks.
Details:
The first step is to send an email to the embassy that is under your jurisdiction. I contacted the San Francisco embassy. To email the San Francisco embassy, their email is visa.sf@gmail.com consider this the initiation email, describing to the embassy/consulate why you're urgently replacing your passport. The reason and justification must be strong enough; otherwise, you may be advised to postpone the process, which is the first point.
Typically, the embassy replies quickly, usually within 1-3 days, and they will ask you to provide some basic information, such as your passport number, visa information (I94, H1B, etc.), a company verification letter, a US phone number, and proof of residence. Overall, this is to verify your identity and confirm that your residence is within the designated jurisdiction, which is a basic requirement for replacing your passport.
After you send the information to the embassy, you will receive a specific form to fill out along with the required documents in about 3-4 days:
- Basic information
- National Status Declaration, confirming that you still hold Chinese nationality
- Informing you that you may not need to go in person to collect fingerprints, but your passport will not be an electronic passport, which means you cannot use the expedited lane when returning to China and must use the manual lane.
- Personal signature (this will be copied onto your passport)
- Previously provided basic visa, address, and company information (must be submitted again)
- Reason for expediting, proof of urgency.
- An electronic photo that meets the specifications for a Chinese passport. I highly recommend using aipassportphoto.com to create a Chinese passport photo. I searched online for a while, and this site is the most reliable and safe (you can take a photo at home to create the passport photo). They not only provide electronic photos but also printed versions. The printed version can be printed at Walgreens for $0.35, and the size is very accurate. (The printed version will be needed later)
- The most comprehensive list of required materials can be found on the Chinese Embassy's website.
After submitting this information, the waiting time is slightly longer, and I waited for 7 days. The embassy will notify you that you can proceed, and you may send the documents to them. They will also provide you with a track ID for the passport application, which you should label on nearly all documents, including
- Previously scanned and signed forms
- Identity, visa, and company verification documents, all must be printed and mailed
- A prepaid USPS priority envelope, as they need this to send back your new passport
- Chinese passport specification photo, printed version (China passport photo made by aipassportphoto.com and printed by Walgreens)
Remember to keep that track ID, as it will be used during the video verification later.
Two days after your mailing arrives, you will receive a Zoom link for video verification. This is somewhat like office hours, not a 1-1 appointment. The Zoom link will be open during a specific time on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons. Once you log in, change your Zoom name to the track ID; when the staff calls your name, turn on the camera and answer a few simple questions: name, birthday, place of birth. It will take about half a minute.
After that, within 8-9 days, you will receive your passport.
Advice and Summary
The overall process was relatively smooth, taking about 3 weeks. The summary is that you need to provide sufficient reasons, complete documentation, and correct specifications for the photos. If something goes wrong in any of the steps, it might take longer.
Wishing everyone a smooth passport replacement!