To dovetail my previous post on the challenges of entering Tibet, if I decide to enter Tibet from China, then I will walk into the Chinese Embassy in my home town of Washington, DC a few weeks before I leave the country, and pick up an L (tourist) Visa. The embassy website indicates a 4-day processing time for getting a tourist Visa, which is valid for entry within a 6-month period from the date of issuance.
Unfortunately, they recently doubled the price from $50 to $100 for us Americans. Obviously, with the rush of Visa applications in advance of the Olympics, it is time for the Chinese to cash in on their status as the host nation of the 2008 Summer games.
