The visa requirements were vastly loosened like a week after I got mine, I hear it is pretty easy these days, but you still have to either go to a consulate or pay a service to go for you.
Money, I can’t help with, but paying for things here I use my western card with Alipay. I’d recommend having some cash for places that don’t take western cards, or trying to set up WeChat pay, but I never got around to it.
I say skip Duolingo, and use HelloChinese, the biggest thing I struggle with is hearing what people say, especially when they have an accent that doesn’t match what Duolingo has. HelloChinese has live actors for their speech, and that seems to help a lot. There’s other apps and things, but I’m not too familiar with most of them.
I’m honestly planning on getting a private tutor when I go back home to really drill my listening and talking skills, because as it is I’m basically mute even though I can read pretty well I think for how long I’ve been practicing.
Do you have any service recommendations, or what to expect? Or how much money the service would cost?
When you say consulate, do you mean like embassy? There are unfortunately no embassies in Texas, and I'm very concerned that I could be tracked or harassed by the U.S. government for mailing a Chinese embassy.
Consulate is like embassy yeah. There’s only like 6 in the US, and each region is assigned to one. For me, I had to go to Chicago’s, as it was the nearest to me and the one I’m assigned to. You have to go to the one you’re assigned, regardless if another is closer. I didn’t use the service, I went in person, but I saw many of the people who did work for the service. I looked into it, and it was about $500 I think, you have to give them your passport and paperwork, they’ll go to the consulate, get your visa, which takes like 3 days, and then return to you with your passport with the Visa inside.
For the picture, you need it to match specific specifications. I had my aunt take a picture of me against a white background with no shadowing on my face or behind me, and then used an online tool to adjust the dimensions, resolution, and center my head to exactly match their specifications. I saw a guy next to me get denied with his Walgreens photo, so I really recommend the online tool rather than relying on paying someone for the photo.
You don’t have to mail the consulate, but even if you did, you shouldn’t worry. Thousands of Americans go to China and live in China every year. Unless you’re actively working with the Party in some way, I don’t think any of us are nearly important enough for the US government to give two shits about. I already get harassed by the USA gov for being brown in public though, so maybe I’m not the best judge of that kinda thing.
My main concern are the money and visa requirements. And tips on starting to learn Chinese
The visa requirements were vastly loosened like a week after I got mine, I hear it is pretty easy these days, but you still have to either go to a consulate or pay a service to go for you.
Money, I can’t help with, but paying for things here I use my western card with Alipay. I’d recommend having some cash for places that don’t take western cards, or trying to set up WeChat pay, but I never got around to it.
I say skip Duolingo, and use HelloChinese, the biggest thing I struggle with is hearing what people say, especially when they have an accent that doesn’t match what Duolingo has. HelloChinese has live actors for their speech, and that seems to help a lot. There’s other apps and things, but I’m not too familiar with most of them.
I’m honestly planning on getting a private tutor when I go back home to really drill my listening and talking skills, because as it is I’m basically mute even though I can read pretty well I think for how long I’ve been practicing.
furiously taking notes for family activities over the next five years
Do you have any service recommendations, or what to expect? Or how much money the service would cost?
When you say consulate, do you mean like embassy? There are unfortunately no embassies in Texas, and I'm very concerned that I could be tracked or harassed by the U.S. government for mailing a Chinese embassy.
Consulate is like embassy yeah. There’s only like 6 in the US, and each region is assigned to one. For me, I had to go to Chicago’s, as it was the nearest to me and the one I’m assigned to. You have to go to the one you’re assigned, regardless if another is closer. I didn’t use the service, I went in person, but I saw many of the people who did work for the service. I looked into it, and it was about $500 I think, you have to give them your passport and paperwork, they’ll go to the consulate, get your visa, which takes like 3 days, and then return to you with your passport with the Visa inside.
For the picture, you need it to match specific specifications. I had my aunt take a picture of me against a white background with no shadowing on my face or behind me, and then used an online tool to adjust the dimensions, resolution, and center my head to exactly match their specifications. I saw a guy next to me get denied with his Walgreens photo, so I really recommend the online tool rather than relying on paying someone for the photo.
You don’t have to mail the consulate, but even if you did, you shouldn’t worry. Thousands of Americans go to China and live in China every year. Unless you’re actively working with the Party in some way, I don’t think any of us are nearly important enough for the US government to give two shits about. I already get harassed by the USA gov for being brown in public though, so maybe I’m not the best judge of that kinda thing.
Nevermind, I saw that Texas is assigned to the actual embassy. I guess I'll have to email or mail them.
How do you know which region you are assigned to?