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Q: Why do Americans have to pay extra for visas?
Visa costs for Americans: 180 dollars
Visa costs for Canadians: 90 dollars
I'm willing to stake my left pinkie it's also about 90 bucks for European countries. Why?
12 years 36 weeks ago in Visa & Legalities - China
The answer to your question is very simple, and straight forward. Chinese Government charges for their visa according to what foreign countries charge Chinese nationals for a visa to enter.
The actual cost of a visa to enter China for US Nationals is $ 130.00 for plain services, 4 days, makes no difference number of entries, validity or stay. There are extra charges for expediting services. The rest is the fee for the visa agent, which is negotiable, and/or handling and shipping charges. BUT THE CHARGE FOR THE VISA IS FIXED, IT IS NOT NEGOTIABLE as indicated wrongly in the post above.
mattaya:
180-40 would be about what you put at 135. . . so it's fixed your right!
HappyExPat:
Ⅳ.Visa fees
1.Please pay by Visa, MasterCard, Money Order, Cashier's Check or Company Check. Cash or Personal checks are not acceptable.
2.Please make the company check, cashier's check or money order payable to Chinese Embassy.
3.Fee list: Number of Entry American Citizens of other countries*
Single Entry $130 , foreigners $30
Double Entry $130, foreigners $45
Multiple Entry for 6 Months $130, foreigners $60
Multiple Entry for 12 Months $130, foreigners $90
Multiple Entry for 24 Months $130, foreigners $90
*Visa fees for Romanian passport holders are: $75 for single or double entry, $150 for multiple entry.
From the Chinese Embassy in Washington website
China conducts its foreign affairs in terms of visas, etc,. on the basis of reciprocity as has been pointed out above. The cost of a visa for a United States passport holder is directly related to the cost of a visa for a Chinese passport holder.
Additionally, if the United States decides to limit the term of a tourist visa to "X" amount of time, then generally the Chinese government reciprocates accordingly. One can notice then particularly in terms of the duration of "L" and "F" visas that are offered to United States citizens, the duration of same being considerably shorter, in most cases, than that offered on visas to most other countries (France again being the exception).
When I applied for my Chinese visa to come here, I discovered and aweful truth. America charges more...there you have it. Fair is fair.
Just FTR: (from the China Travel Guide website, Australia...)
Regular Visa Fee per Person
Visa Types
Australian Citizens
American Citizens
Citizens of Other Countries
Single-Entry Visa with 3-month Validity
AUD 60
AUD 169
AUD 50
Double-Entry Visa with 6-month Validity
AUD 90
AUD 169
AUD 75
Multi-Entry Visa with 6-month Validity
AUD 120
AUD 169
AUD 100
Multi-Entry Visa with 12-month Validity
AUD 180
AUD 169
AUD 150
Also - remember, all Americans are rich 
