- Which states use the DC Embassy?
- Why Texas & other former Houston states use DC
- How to start a DC COVA application
- The 90-day entry rule
- What the DC COVA statuses mean
- "Passport to be Submitted" — what it means
- What the Embassy requires at submission
- Passport validity requirements
- Do tourist applicants need flights or hotels?
- How to mail your passport safely
- Washington DC processing time
- ChinaVisaMail DC service pricing
- China visa by mail from your state
- What we handle after your passport arrives
- Washington DC Visa Office information
- Frequently asked questions
Does your status say "Passport to be Submitted"?
You're at the physical passport-submission stage. ChinaVisaMail can handle the Washington D.C. Embassy submission and pickup for you.
Get My Mailing Instructions →No payment required to start. Mandy will email your mailing instructions and Pre-Mail Important Checks PDF.
Which States Use the Washington DC Chinese Embassy?
China visa jurisdiction is based on the applicant's current residence, not their phone number, birthplace, departure airport, or which Embassy seems closest. The Chinese Embassy's current jurisdiction includes Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and 16 states.
16 states plus Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico — 18 jurisdictions in total:
If you live in one of these jurisdictions, select Washington D.C. when COVA asks which Embassy or Consulate will handle the application.
Not sure which office handles your state? Check which Chinese Consulate handles your application.
Why Texas, Florida & Other Former Houston States Use Washington DC
The Chinese Consulate General in Houston permanently closed in July 2020. The official June 29, 2024 jurisdiction announcement confirms the current distribution: the former Houston jurisdictions — Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas, and Puerto Rico — now fall under the Washington D.C. Embassy.
Do Not Select Houston on COVA
Houston is no longer an active Chinese Consulate. Applicants in Texas, Florida, Georgia, and the other affected jurisdictions should use the current Washington D.C. Embassy jurisdiction rather than following old internet instructions that may still reference Houston.
Selected the wrong office already? See how to fix a wrong Consulate selection on COVA.
How to Start a Washington DC COVA Application
Washington D.C. applicants use China's official online COVA system at consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA/. The Embassy describes COVA as a three-stage process: create or log into your account, complete the form and upload materials, then go through online review before physical passport submission.
Step 1: Open the Official COVA System
Go to consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA/ and switch to English using the language toggle if needed. Register with an email address you check often — COVA sends verification codes and status updates there.
Step 2: Select Washington D.C.
Select your application location based on your current residence and the Embassy jurisdiction shown above. Do not select Washington D.C. merely because it is geographically convenient, and do not select Houston.
Step 3: Complete All COVA Sections
The Embassy currently describes nine application sections: personal information, visa type, work information, education, family information, travel information, previous travel, other information, and declaration.
This page gives the regional instructions specific to the Washington D.C. jurisdiction. For a full screen-by-screen COVA walkthrough covering every field, see our complete 2026 COVA application guide.
Important COVA Rule: Entry Must Be Within 90 Days
The current COVA system only accepts visa applications when the intended entry date is within the next 90 days. Applications outside that window will not be processed through the system yet.
What Do the Washington DC COVA Statuses Mean?
You are the only one who can see your own COVA account. Please check it yourself and let Mandy know when it changes.
The Embassy is reviewing the application information and uploaded documents. Continue monitoring your own COVA account for changes or requests.
This does not necessarily mean the visa was denied. It means the Embassy's online review found something that needs correction or additional material. COVA instructs applicants to modify or supplement the application based on the feedback and submit the requested information.
The online preliminary review has progressed to the physical passport-submission stage. It does not mean your visa has already been issued or guaranteed — see the section below.
If a "Rejected and to be Modified" status relates to your consulate/embassy selection specifically, see our wrong-consulate fix guide. For any other flagged field, see our COVA application guide.
What Does "Passport to be Submitted" Mean in Washington DC?
"Passport to be Submitted" means the online preliminary review has progressed to the physical passport-submission stage. It does not mean your China visa has already been issued or guaranteed. The Embassy specifically states that online review approval does not guarantee visa issuance.
Once this status appears, the Embassy says the applicant or agent should submit the passport, a printed copy of the application information page containing the barcode, and any original documents required for that case.
You've reached the stage ChinaVisaMail handles
Send us your service request. Mandy will email your case-specific mailing instructions and Pre-Mail Important Checks PDF before you send your passport.
Send Me My Mailing Instructions →What Does the Washington DC Embassy Require at Passport Submission?
The physical submission package is not universally "passport only." What is required depends partly on the applicant's history and visa category.
Required in the Standard Physical Submission Stage
- Original passport used for the application
- Application information page showing "Passport to be Submitted" and the application barcode
Old Passport With a Still-Valid Chinese Visa
If a previous Chinese visa or residence permit is still valid and is in an old passport, the Embassy lists that old passport among the originals to be submitted.
If your previous Chinese visa was already expired when you completed COVA, do not automatically mail an old passport unless Mandy or the Embassy specifically tells you to.
Former Chinese Citizens
If the applicant previously held Chinese nationality and this is the first Chinese visa after naturalization abroad, the Embassy lists the latest Chinese passport among the originals that may be required.
Q1 and S1 Applicants
The Embassy lists original proof of immediate-family relationship for Q1 and S1 applications among items requiring original verification.
Other Originals Requested During COVA Review
If the Embassy specifically asks you to submit an original document, follow that instruction. ChinaVisaMail customers should contact Mandy before mailing irreplaceable originals so the package can be checked against the case instructions.
Washington DC Passport Validity Requirements
Official Embassy Minimum
The Embassy currently requires more than 6 months remaining on the passport and at least 2 blank visa pages.
ChinaVisaMail Pre-Mail Safety Check
- More than 12 months remaining — generally proceed.
- More than 6 months but 12 months or less — contact Mandy before mailing. The available visa validity may be affected and the case may require additional handling.
- 6 months or less — renew the passport before mailing.
A shorter passport validity is not guaranteed to result in any particular visa length, and a signed acknowledgment does not guarantee approval — final decisions remain with the Embassy.
Do Tourist Visa Applicants Need Flights, Hotels or an Invitation Letter?
For U.S.-based tourist L-visa applicants, the Embassy states that starting January 1, 2024, round-trip flight booking records, hotel reservations, itineraries, and invitation letters are generally no longer required as standard L-visa application documents. Individual applications can still be reviewed case by case.
Business M visa: supporting commercial/invitation documentation is different. Family Q/S visa: supporting documents differ as well. See our general COVA guide for more on document categories by visa type.
How to Mail Your Passport to ChinaVisaMail Safely
Do not use an old mailing address copied from a blog or search result. ChinaVisaMail customers should use the mailing instructions Mandy sends for their specific case.
Before mailing:
- Photograph your passport's bio page
- Photograph any previous Chinese visa pages, if applicable
- Review the Pre-Mail Important Checks PDF
- Confirm COVA shows the exact "Passport to be Submitted" status
- Check whether an old passport or a requested original document applies to your case
- Use USPS Priority Mail with tracking, per Mandy's current instructions
- Save the tracking number
- Email the tracking number to Mandy after mailing
For a full walkthrough, see our complete passport-mailing guide and is it safe to mail your passport — how we handle it.
Washington DC Embassy China Visa Processing Time
| Stage | Time |
|---|---|
| Regular processing (Embassy, after physical submission) | 4 business days |
| Express processing (Embassy, urgent situations) | 3 business days |
These are average reference times calculated from the date of physical passport submission. The Embassy expressly notes that individual cases may require longer and that the pickup date may not be confirmed until the Visa Office provides it.
COVA Preliminary Review
COVA preliminary review occurs before physical passport submission. The Embassy does not publish a guaranteed review duration on its current instructions, so applicants should monitor their own account and allow extra time for any requested modifications.
ChinaVisaMail Washington DC Service Pricing
| Applicants | Standard | Express |
|---|---|---|
| 1 applicant | $449 | $494 |
| 2 applicants | $799 | $849 |
| 3 applicants | $928 | $982 |
| 4 applicants | $1,079 | $1,128 |
ChinaVisaMail's quoted package price includes our service, the applicable Chinese visa fee, Embassy submission and pickup, handling, and tracked return shipping. Your inbound mailing cost to ChinaVisaMail is separate. For 5 or more applicants, contact Mandy for group pricing.
See Washington DC Embassy mail-in service details →
China Visa by Mail From Your State
Every jurisdiction under the Washington D.C. Embassy has its own dedicated guide with state-specific details:
Houston, Dallas, Austin and all Texas residents use the Washington D.C. Embassy for China visa applications.
China visa for Texas residents →All Florida residents fall under the Washington D.C. Embassy jurisdiction.
China visa for Florida residents →Virginia residents apply through the Washington D.C. Embassy.
China visa for Virginia residents →Maryland residents apply through the Washington D.C. Embassy.
China visa for Maryland residents →Georgia residents apply through the Washington D.C. Embassy.
China visa for Georgia residents →West Virginia residents apply through the Washington D.C. Embassy.
China visa for West Virginia residents →North Carolina residents apply through the Washington D.C. Embassy.
China visa for North Carolina residents →South Carolina residents apply through the Washington D.C. Embassy.
China visa for South Carolina residents →Kentucky residents apply through the Washington D.C. Embassy.
China visa for Kentucky residents →Tennessee residents apply through the Washington D.C. Embassy.
China visa for Tennessee residents →Delaware residents apply through the Washington D.C. Embassy.
China visa for Delaware residents →Alabama residents apply through the Washington D.C. Embassy.
China visa for Alabama residents →Arkansas residents apply through the Washington D.C. Embassy.
China visa for Arkansas residents →Louisiana residents apply through the Washington D.C. Embassy.
China visa for Louisiana residents →Mississippi residents apply through the Washington D.C. Embassy.
China visa for Mississippi residents →Oklahoma residents apply through the Washington D.C. Embassy.
China visa for Oklahoma residents →Local D.C. residents apply directly through the Embassy.
China visa for D.C. residents →Puerto Rico residents fall under the Washington D.C. Embassy jurisdiction.
China visa for Puerto Rico residents →What ChinaVisaMail Handles After Your Passport Arrives
Once your passport package has arrived and your case is ready for submission, ChinaVisaMail handles the physical Embassy submission, pickup, processing coordination, and tracked return shipping according to the service selected.
ChinaVisaMail does not guarantee visa issuance, does not review or approve your COVA application on the Embassy's behalf, and does not control the Embassy's processing date.
Ready to Have Us Handle the Embassy?
Complete COVA, mail your passport with tracking, and Mandy handles the rest for the Washington D.C. Embassy jurisdiction.
Start My China Visa Application →Washington DC Chinese Embassy Visa Office Information
Visa Office Address: 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 110, Washington, D.C. 20007
Office Hours: 9:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m., Monday–Friday, excluding US and Chinese holidays
Visa Application Email: [email protected]
This Visa Office address is separate from the main Embassy building at 3505 International Place NW. ChinaVisaMail customers do not use the Embassy address as their own mailing address — follow the mailing instructions Mandy sends you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Official Sources Checked
- Chinese Embassy in the USA — Requirements and Procedures for Chinese Visa Application (us.china-embassy.gov.cn)
- Chinese Embassy in the USA — Guidelines for China Online VISA Application (us.china-embassy.gov.cn)
- Chinese Embassy in the USA — Announcement on the Adjustment of Consular Jurisdiction, June 29, 2024 (us.china-embassy.gov.cn)
- Official COVA Portal — consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA/
Last reviewed: August 27, 2026. ChinaVisaMail.com is an independent visa/document courier service and is not the Chinese Embassy or a Chinese government agency. Visa issuance, visa type, number of entries, validity, and length of stay remain at the discretion of Chinese consular officials.