PASSPORTS

Passport applications must be made in person at the American Citizen Services section of the Embassy between the hours of 8:30 am -12 noon, and 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm. New passports are generally issued within one week to 10 days after application. Limited validity emergency passports can be issued within two working days.

For minors under the age of 14, both parents and child(ren) must come to the embassy in person and bring all of the following items:

• Parents' passports or photo IDs
• The original or certified copy of child's birth certificate
• Child's current passport
• Two 2"x2" square passport photos (See below for detailed requirement)
• 664.20 RMB or 82 USD
• Child's Social Security Number
• If the photo on the child's current passport was taken when the child was a baby, bring photos that show the various stages of the child's growth.

Note: adding extra passport pages for minors under 14: Both parents need to come in person with children's original or certified birth certificate.

In the case of a lost or stolen passport, the loss must be immediately reported to the local Public Security Bureau. The original report must be presented to the Embassy when applying for a replacement passport. The report must also be presented to Chinese authorities when applying for a new visa to replace the visa in the missing passport. Failure to obtain a replacement visa can result in a fine, or greater difficulty, when attempting to exit China.

APPLICATION MUST BE MADE IN PERSON. PLEASE BRING THE FOLLOWING WHEN YOU APPLY:

• Your most recent passport, or a copy of the original police report for a lost/stolen passport.
• Proof of identity, e.g. original driver's license or other photo ID. Applicant's face must be clearly recognizable.
• Proof of citizenship, e.g. photocopy of lost passport, expired passport, naturalization certificate, Chinese residence card. Other documents are acceptable in conjunction with proof of identity (birth certificate or sworn statement of a U.S. citizen affirming applicant's identity, etc.). Let us know if you are registered at the Embassy.
• Two recent 2X2 inch (5x5cm) passport photos (See below for detailed requirement).
• Passport fees are acceptable only in cash (either in RMB or dollars) or traveler's checks.
  1. $82 (or 664.20 RMB) for minors under the age of 16;
  2. $97 (or 785.70 RMB) for first ten year validity passport and replacement for lost/stolen passport;
  3. $67 (or 542.70 RMB) for all adult renewals.

Note:

• The consular officer has the right to request additional information.
• Please do not sign the application until requested to do so.

BIRTH REGISTRATIONS

The American parents of a child born in China should report the birth to the Embassy or a Consulate General. The Embassy will issue a Consular Report of Birth Abroad and a U.S. passport, which will be needed for the child to depart China. The Report of Birth Abroad may be used as a birth certificate for school, work, or other purposes.

Note also that the application for a Report of Birth includes an application for a social security number. The number will be mailed to you approximately four months after registration.

Below is the list of documents that should be submitted for: registration as a U.S. Citizen; a first-time application for a U.S. passport; a Consular Report of Birth. Please note that original documents must be presented with the applications. An affidavit acknowledging at least one parent meets the physical presence in the United States requirement for transmitting citizenship to the child must be filled out as part of the application. All original documents will be reviewed by a consular officer and returned to the applicant.

• An original child's Chinese birth certificate;
• Proof of applicant's identity - some form of photo identification card or record (generally not required for newborns;)
• Applicant's parents' passports, or other proof of their citizenship and identity;
• Original marriage certificate or certified copy of U.S. marriage certificate of child's parents;
• In the event that only one parent is a U.S. citizen, proof of the U.S. citizen parent's physical presence in the United States as required by the law (INA Sec. 301g), such as travel documents with entry/departure stamps, U.S. school transcripts (not diplomas), rent and utility receipts, tax returns, etc;
• Two 2"x2" square passport photos (See below for detailed requirement);
• The baby/child must appear in person with the parent(s).

Additional instruction:

In cases where the American citizenship of a child is to be established, consular officers may require other documentation before a Consular Report of Birth Abroad or passport can be issued. The consular officer will inform you of what documents may still be required.

These documents should not be mailed to the Consular Section. They should be presented in person at the time an application is filed at the Embassy or at the Consulate General which has jurisdiction over the applicant's place of birth or current place of residence. There is a fee of U.S. $30.00 (or 243 RMB) for registration as a U.S. citizen and / or first time application for a passport, $52.00 (or 421.20 RMB) for issuance of a passport and $65.00 (or 526.50 RMB) for the Consular Report of Birth.

Requirement for U.S. Passport Photos

Two color photographs of you alone, sufficiently recent to be a good likeness of you (normally taken within the last six months), and 2 X 2 inches in size. The image size measured from the bottom of your chin to the top of your head (including hair) should not be less than 1 inch and not more than 1-3/8 inches. The photographs must be color, bold with a full front view of your face, and printed on thin paper with plain light (white or off-white) background. They must be capable of withstanding a mounting temperature of 225 Fahrenheit (107 Celsius). Photographs must be taken in normal street attire, without a hat, head coving, or dark glasses unless a sighed statement is submitted by the applicant verifying the item is worn daily for religious purposes or a signed doctor's statement is submitted verifying the item is used daily for medical purposes, Photographs retouched so that your appearance is changed are unacceptable. Snapshots, most vending machine prints, and magazine or full-length photographs are unacceptable, digitized photos must meet the previously stated qualifications and will be accepted for use at the discretion of Passport Services.

Applicants are free to use the services of any studio that can produce photos meeting these requirements; however, it may be easier to get the required photos at studios that can already produce U.S. passport photos. If you cannot find a photo service near you that can produce photos consistent with the requirements, the American Citizen Services section can provide the names and addresses of photos studios in Beijing that currently produce acceptable U.S. passport photos.

NOTARIALS

Consular Officers perform notary services customarily provided by Notaries Public in the U.S. Persons requiring such services should visit the Consular Section during regular office hours. Please note that a consular officer cannot witness a will. Note also that a consular officer cannot certify that documents are valid or that statements made are true. He or she can attest only to the oath taken by the person making the statements or presenting the documents.

PLEASE BRING THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WHEN YOU COME FOR A NOTARIZATION:

• The documents to be notarized.
• Identification.
• Witnesses, if necessary.
• Fee: first seal $30; each additional seal $20, provided at the same time in connection with the same transaction. Acceptable only in cash (either in RMB or dollars) or traveler's checks.

Death Certificates

Issuing death certificates to the Next-of-kins (NOK).

Notification: Usually the death of an American citizen will be notified to the Embassy by a relative, traveling companion, the China International Travel Services (CITS), the Public Security Bureau (PSB), or the foreign affairs office (Waiban) of a sponsoring organization of the dead person's travel to China.

Checking Chinese Visa Requirements: If the deceased and the NOK were with a tour group, they probably were on a Group Visa, which the tour leader carries. If the NOK is to be left behind, he or she must be taken off the tour visa and issued an individual visa before the tour group departs. Have the Chinese tour agent to take the group visa, the passports of the deceased and anyone staying behind, and the official Chinese death certificate to the PSB at #2 Andingmen Dongdajie to have this done.

Disposition of Remains: To ship the remains back to the States, the best way is to hire the following companies which can make all the necessary arrangements for shipment.

           Medex Assistance Beijing - (8610) 6595-8510; fax: (8610) 6595-8509
           SOS International: - (8610) 6462-9112/6462-9100; (8610) 6464-9111
           World Access: - (8610) 6441-4916; fax: (8610) 6441-4911
           Babaoshan Mortuary Home (embalming/cremation) -
          (8610) 6824-3385/8825-9786 (Chinese only)

(Always instruct the morgue or the hospital to keep the remains in cold storage until officially notified as to how to dispose of the remains.)

Official Death Certificates Issued by the Embassy: Embassy requires to see the passport of the deceased and the original death certificate issued by the hospital or the autopsy/police report issued by the local authorities before issuing the certificates. 20 original death certificates will be issued after the deceased's passport is canceled and the original hospital death certificate is presented.

Documentation Required to Ship Embalmed Remains: The Embassy must obtain three documents necessary in order to prepare a Consular Mortuary Certificate which will accompany the remains -- (1) an official death certificate; (2) a Permit for Importation/Exportation of Corpse/Coffin with Corpse/Human Remains; and (3) a certificate from the mortuary stating that the body has been embalmed in accordance with local practice and that only human remains are in the casket.

Documentation Required to Ship the Cremated Remains: The Consular Mortuary Certificate is not required in this case. However, a translated Chinese death certificate and a cremation certificate, which states that the body has been cremated in accordance with local law and that the urn contains only the remains of the deceased, must accompany the cremains.