Useful information to use when you fill your visa application form:

Travel Information

"Major purpose of your visit"
Non-business visit

"Inviter in China"
Dr. Zhang Haiwen, Director-General, Dept. of International Cooperation, SOA
1, Fuxingmenwai Avenue, Beijing, 1008860, People's Republic of China
Phone: (86-10) 6804-8072
Fax: (86-10) 6804-8080
Chinese National Delegate to PICES

"Itinerary/Detailed address in China"
Shangri-La Hotel Qingdao
9 Xiang Gang Zhong Lu, Qingdao

============================================================

GENERAL INFORMATION

All foreign participants need to obtain visas to travel in China and are advised to start the application procedure as soon as possible, at the nearest Chinese Embassy or Consulate in the country of citizenship. Please visit the website of the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in your country to check the required documents for visa application. Information on all Chinese Missions overseas can be found on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website at http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/wjb_663304/zwjg_665342/.

Here are some quick links to the Chinese Embassy websites in PICES member countries:
Canada – http://vancouver.china-consulate.org/eng/visa/default.htm
Japan – http://www.china-embassy.or.jp/jpn/
Korea – http://www.chinaemb.or.kr/kor/lshyw/lsk_qz/default.htm
Russia – http://ru.china-embassy.org/rus/
US.A. – http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/

A valid passport and an official letter of invitation (Invitation Letter of Duly Authorized Unit) are required to apply for a visa. Send your request for the official invitation letter to Ms. LV Wenjun (First Institute Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, China; lwj001@fio.org.cn) as early as possible, but no later than September 10, 2015. It takes 1-2 weeks to issue the official invitation letter. Please note that October 1-7 is China’s National Holiday, and Chinese Missions will not work during this period.

STEPS:

1. APPLY FOR PICES-2015 INVITATION LETTER

Request a PICES-2015 invitation letter from the PICES Secretariat by sending email to
secretariat@pices.int

2. APPLY FOR AN INVITATION LETTER

Fill out the REQUEST FORMS FOR INVITATION LETTER, FORM-1 (doc, pdf) and FORM-2 (doc, pdf) and email them along with a copy of a PASSPORT PHOTO PAGE (jpeg or gif format) and any questions/concerns regarding your visa application process to Ms. LV Wenjun (lwj001@fio.org.cn).

3. APPLY FOR VISA

Submit your visa application with required documents, including the PICES invitation letter and the official invitation letter (Invitation Letter of Duly Authorized Unit), to the Chinese Embassy or Consulate. Processing time and document requirements differ from country to country.