UPDATE:

Two days after sending our applications to chinavisa dot com via ups 2nd day I received this email message:

<i>Thank you for sending in your visa application for China. We have received all required documents and have submitted them to the Chinese Consulate for visa processing. Please check the following information, including an expected shipping date(9/6/12) and make sure that your shipping address is correct. If you have any questions regarding your application, please feel free to contact us.</i>

Fingers crossed

Aloha!

i received much the same msg, but then things changed, but i think you will be fine

I also received this identical message and am expecting to receive my visa on Tuesday, Sept 4th. Fingers crossed here as well. Bob - any further news?

status quo

<i>why does everyone hate me?</i>

Ha, ha, ha, you cannot be serious!

And your experience is simply one of many reasons why I will never visit China. (The Chinese are either happy or apathetic about that.)

BC

BC - what's the point of reading this forum and posting on it if you have no intention of going to China?

Excusez-moi, JPDeM, but the OP is a friend of mine, and I just wanted to rib him a bit. Je vous demande pardon.

BC

dgunbug and hawaiian traveler,
please let us know the minute you get your visas. I was ready to send my request in a couple of days through Travisa (recommended by the Linden Centre), but now after hearing Bob's plight...I'm rethinking using chinavisadotcome instead. I do have my Letter of Invitation from China HIghlights, which I hope will help.

And Bob, when you said you need the hotel confirmation in non-email format, can it be like a letter as an attachment?

This sounds like Catch 22.....what a worry!

yes, it just can't look like an e mail with a to and from, subj, etc..

all names to occupy the room must be listed too.

I am anticipating receipt of my visa tomorrow. It is difficult to know if the problem stems from the visa company or the particular embassy that bob must use. I will report back tomorrow. Barefoot, the embassy for Florida residents is in Houston so that may be the difference. In any event, I would avoid using bob's agent since he's had such difficulty. We only supplied our first hotel in Beijing, did not type in capital letters, and did not have any of the other difficulties that bob has encountered. Also, our agent is available by phone to answer any questions when filling out the paperwork. It must be typed on computer rather than hand written. More tomorrow after receipt of documents.

Bob- I just now began to read you post regarding getting a visa to visit China. Well I agree its crazy and I will be scratching China off our list of places to visit. $200 bucks for a visa and all that nonsense about how to fill out the forms- as they say in NY/NJ.... fuhgetaboutit!!! I'd rather spend those dollars in Bangkok!

FedEx has delayed the delivery. Now I anticipate receiving it tomorrow. I'll update you all then.

Oh the suspense,lol!

well if fedex has it then your visas are surely in the pouch and just a matter of time before delivery again proving bob has picked another loser.....I hope ;)

dgunbug,
I want to be sure you actually get them before I book my visa with them...sounds promising though!

i'm expecting mine in the next few days...

the only losers i pick are travel companions

Barefootbeach, the experience described by rhkkmk has been excrutiating and the farthest from "promising" in any way even should Travisa produce visas in the end. Why on earth would you even consider this agency when there are several recommendations in the posts above that have given excellent service (mine was VisaHQ and there are others mentioned)?

Would that be "excruciating"? I just don't know but it looked wrong. I not only don't speak Mandarin I lose my English.

And I think "furthest" would be correct, not farthest. Oh dear.

MmePerdu - don't fret - no one is grading your grammar.
And poor spelling can always be attributed to the iphone or the fingers messing up!

Barefootbeach- I'll report to you later this evening after receiving my FedEx package. Don't remember...when will you be traveling to China? I think we are neighbors...we really should get together some time.