The Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Los Angeles has issued a notice confirming that its visa office will be closed from Monday 16 February through Wednesday 18 February for Spring-Festival holidays. Regular processing, express service and in-person collections will resume on 19 February.
Southern California is home to the largest concentration of China-bound travellers in the United States, and the three-day shutdown coincides with a seasonal surge in applications from students starting the spring semester and executives heading to post-holiday supplier meetings. Travel-management companies estimate that more than 4,000 passport submissions were handled weekly in January, suggesting that backlogs could build quickly once the office re-opens.
![Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles to Suspend Visa Services 16–18 February]()
Corporate mobility teams are urging applicants to bring forward appointment dates or, where feasible, use consulates in neighbouring jurisdictions such as San Francisco. However, they caution that courier submissions remain suspended post-pandemic, meaning in-person biometrics are mandatory for most visa classes.
The consulate reiterated that emergency consular protection services will operate 24/7 and advised travellers to carry notarised invitation letters and proof of business purpose to speed post-holiday adjudication.
Southern California is home to the largest concentration of China-bound travellers in the United States, and the three-day shutdown coincides with a seasonal surge in applications from students starting the spring semester and executives heading to post-holiday supplier meetings. Travel-management companies estimate that more than 4,000 passport submissions were handled weekly in January, suggesting that backlogs could build quickly once the office re-opens.
Corporate mobility teams are urging applicants to bring forward appointment dates or, where feasible, use consulates in neighbouring jurisdictions such as San Francisco. However, they caution that courier submissions remain suspended post-pandemic, meaning in-person biometrics are mandatory for most visa classes.
The consulate reiterated that emergency consular protection services will operate 24/7 and advised travellers to carry notarised invitation letters and proof of business purpose to speed post-holiday adjudication.
