Has anyone gone to the Chinese Consulate in NYC to obtain their tourist visa? I used a visa agency ( ZIerer) last time and wonder how difficult it would be to do it at the consulate. Is it done while you are there, all in one day? Or is your passport mailed back to you? I will be in NYC for an extended period within the time frame required for a Chinese visa before my trip.
Thanks for your input and help.

It is a snap to get the visa at the PRC consulate visa office, on 42nd Street at the Hudson River.
You have to drop off the passport and retrieve it a couple of days later. I was in and out of the building in 5 minutes, both to drop off the passport, and to pick it up with visa attached.

Make sure that you fill out the entire application, including the actual complete street address of the hotels in which you plan to stay.

Thanks so much Eks. I'll be in the city for a couple of months and will do that.
China is the start of an Asian adventure and I have been looking at your dining reds for Hanoi, HCM City and Bangkok as well.
I really appreciate all you give to these forums. Happy

Eks, did yo get your visa for Vietnam at their NY Consulate too?

Yes..and I recall that the Vietnamese price was lower at the NYC consulate than at the embassy in DC, where I got it the first time; I had to leave the passport there for at least one day.

Many thanks. I didn't realize how perfect the timing was for my extended NYC stay.

If you go in the am early enough,you can pay $30 to pick it up that afternoon.