Lincoln Pennies

Of Passports, Visas, And Finding What You Are Worth

For all the difficult moments one expends on consciously counting every dollar earned all forty eight working weeks of the year, everybody merits a good vacation. Being focused drives the start of forecasting a vacation getaway destination–it has to be something captivating, something pivotal, and something that is worth it. Europe, Australia, and the Caribbean are the most desired countries by Americans. For the daring and the gallant, however, Asia wins the pick because of its interestingly different culture, animated scenery, and oh-so yummy cuisine. And among the many countries, at the pedestal lies China.

The process that one must abide by in planning a trip to China is not as hard as one would typically expect.  Acquiring your own U.S. passport at the local passport-granting agency is the primary step.  If one already has a passport, do not forget that the passport must be valid for six months even after the expected travel date. Proof of U.S. citizenship, government-issued identification, filled-up DS-II form, and clear Xerox copies of all these documents are the requirements for obtaining new US passports. Applying for a passport is easy because of the access provided by local  branches of passport-issuing agencies   In choosing alternatives in obtaining U.S. passports, one can choose between the regular processing time which should last between four to six weeks from the time of application or the expedited processing which is only two to three weeks.  Tracking information is available in five to seven days after the application has been surrendered. An expedited process cuts the bureaucratic time span in half; that is why for those who cannot afford to wait and have a little bit of extra money, this is helpful.

Once the U.S passport is obtained, efficient coordination with other travel arrangements is vital. One of these of course is acquiring a visa to China. Utmost attention is mandated in obtaining China Visas in the most efficient manner. To survive the rigor of filing for a visa, travel authorities say that about thirty to ninety days prior to planned visit, it is advisable to set an appointment with the visa section of the Consulate General of People’s Republic of China or through a reputable travel agency. And unfortunately, in America, there are only three offices where one can file for China Visas-in Washington DC, New York, and San Francisco.  Depending on the nature of the visit, intention, and terms or number of legal entries (single, double, or multiple), China Visas are granted or not. Depending on the type of visa applied for, consular prices range from $130-$190. Moreover, China varies its extra precautionary requirements before allowing entry, in relation to external factors, such as requiring international certificates of vaccination for yellow fever.

Don’t you think this is all worth it? The Great Wall is waiting for you.

1919 Lincoln penny