Chinese Passport Renewal – Consulate General in the United States

I finally received my new passport today. Renewing a passport during the pandemic was extremely difficult; the whole process took about six months. I'm writing this guide to help you out; I hope it's useful.

Timeline

October 18, 2020: Email inquiry regarding passport renewal

October 23, 2020: Received a reply explaining the pandemic policies and asking if I met the requirements and whether I wanted to continue.

October 28, 2020: Replied to the embassy with the submitted materials and applied to continue the process.

November 13, 2020: Inquired about the progress and received a reply stating that if there are no new updates by the end of January 2021, I should contact them via email.

February 9, 2021: Inquired about the progress.

February 17, 2021: Received appointment number and can begin making appointments.

February 18, 2021: Online reservation successful.

February 25, 2021: Materials sent

March 14, 2021: Received new passport

process

1. To schedule an appointment, email the visa office at visaoffice.dc@gmail.com. This is the Consulate General, which has jurisdiction over DC, DE, ID, KY, MD, MT, NE, NC, ND, SC, SD, TN, UT, VA, WV, WY, AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, OK, and TX. For other states, please check online for the consulate with jurisdiction.
2. You will need to explain your reason for applying and provide some basic information. If you are fortunate enough to successfully book an appointment, you will receive an appointment number. This number is very important; without it, even if you successfully book online, you will not be able to proceed to the next step.
3. Online reservations are available, and details will be sent via email. Reservations are generally straightforward, as there are plenty of seats available.
4. As required, fill out the form, obtain a cashier's check, take photos, and send the package via USPS. Carefully read the instructions; missing documents or errors in the process may result in resending or even a return of the package.
5. After you send the package, you can check the progress online. The recipient will typically receive their new passport 3-4 weeks after receiving it.