Chinese Visa- Post Script

Determined to make my second visit to the consulate office a much smoother one, I planned to get there before the office opened. I managed to score a bus outside my hotel within a couple of minutes of standing, and I took that as a good sign. When I arrived at the consulate, there were surprisingly no lines outside, and no members of Falun Gong standing and distributing pamphets. I soon discovered that the line had formed inside and snaked towards the back of the building. Even by getting there about 30 minutes before the door opened, I was easily the sixtieth person in line ( the first person was asleep and leaning on the wall!! Who knows when he arrived there?).

When the doors finally opened, people proceeded in a very orderly fashion, and once inside, the whole group divided into people getting in line for a number, and people lining up to pick up the visas. I was definitely in the minority and actually took a count of the line up, and noted that I was 18th in line. It took about 20 minutes to get to the front of the line and 2 minutes to get my passport back, once I was at the wicket. Easy peasy.

Overall a pretty orderly process.... just a lengthy one. So to summarize:
1. don't go to the address on Granville,
2. get there early and get a number,
3. get a form from the internet, or get one at the consulate while you wait, fill it out before they call your number,
4. get there super early if you want same day pick up,
5. bring a book to read, but no food,
6. bring your bank card, or bank cheque for payment (they don't take cash or credit card),
7. consider paying a reputable agency to do the process for you!!