The demand for Chinese visas has grown rapidly in recent years. To provide a better service for visa applicants, the Chinese Embassy in the U.K., following the success of the visa centers of other countries, has decided to introduce a Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (CVASC) in this June. CVASC will be responsible for accepting visa applications of ordinary passport holders for traveling to mainland China, collecting visa fees on behalf of the Embassy and returning processed applications.

Services offered by CVASC:

--Website containing information related to Chinese visa applications

--Call centre or email reply of frequently asked questions regarding Chinese visa applications

--Online filling in the visa application form

--Online booking for application submission

--Extended office hours for submitting applications and on site queuing system

--Postal delivery services of submission of applications and return of processed applications

--Payment in cash or by debit card

Advantages of using CVASC:

--Automated enquiry service or consultant available

--Completing application forms online

--Shorter waiting time

--No need to visit the centre if using the full postal service

--Multiple choice of payment

--Modern and efficient facilities.

CVASC will be operated by China Visa Services Ltd, a company legally registered in UK. In accordance with UK laws, CVASC will take all measures to protect the safety of applicants' personal information and passports. To ensure CVASC's operation, a service fee will be charged and the rate will be published.

Holders of diplomatic, service (official) passport, or applicants qualified for the Chinese diplomatic, service, courtesy visa and visa-exempt certificate, or applicants applying for the Hong Kong visa/entry permit should still submit their applications directly to the Chinese Embassy without changes.

CVASC is not involved in the visa decision process. It is still the Chinese Embassy that decides the outcome of visa applications. There is no change in the application process of Chinese passport, travel document, notarization or legalization.

Further information about CVASC will be published on the Chinese Embassy website.