Well, indeed. That's what happens when only one agency in Mainland China was given the authorization to work with the consulate in Beijing. They can do whatever they want I guess...it will be ridiculous that those docs need to submitted in person, especially in China, the country that has most advanced logistic delivery.
I read all that information on their website. My uncle went in again yesterday and asked a different person working there, who said mail-in is an option. So maybe the first person my uncle spoke to was either in a bad mood that day or didn't know his/her job well. Regardless, the advantage of being there in person is that they will review all your docs on spot, so if you missed anything you can correct that right away, and therefore speed up the process.on Beijing Visa application center website, it says you can submit passport in person or by mail, and many people mailed the passports there, Beijing Visa application center works for IRCC.
http://www.vfsglobal.ca/Canada/China/English/how_to_apply.html
SUBMIT YOUR PASSPORT
If you have received notification from the Government of Canada requesting your passport, you may submit your passport along with the passport request letter via Canada Visa Application Centre (CVAC).
Please note that there will be service charges for CVAC to not only deliver your passport to the visa offices in a timely and safe manner, but also assist you to track your application status via CVAC website. For the details of Service and Service Charge Schedule, please click here and check.
How to submit your passport:
Once you receive notification from the Government of Canada requesting your passport, you can choose any one of the following methods to make submission with documents well prepared.
- In person/ Authorize a representative at the CVAC
With your passport(s), make sure you include:
- The passport request letter your received from IRCC
- Any applicable visa application cerntre (VAC) fees, such as passport transmission fees, courier fees, etc.
- Your contact information, including your email, phone number and return address
- The VAC consent forms
- Use of A Representative (if applicable)
- Your previous passport with exit-entry records which you have ever mentioned during the online application submission or, a written explanation provided the previous passport is not kept any more. Should you never mention the previous records, please kindly ignore this item.
- Or,
- Mail to CVAC
To retrieve your passport(s), you have the choice of;
- Your passport(s)
- The passport request letter you received from IRCC
- Remittance receipt (Total payment should be a sum of passport transmission service fee plus courier fee per applicant in case of no other optional services selected.)
- Please visit “HOW TO APPLY” >> “Mail Your Application” to learn the relevant address and bank account of each CVAC (Step 5 & 8).
- The VAC consent forms
- Use of A Representative (if applicable)
- An additional paper in which your valid contact phone number and email address are specified. (Also state it clearly in case you are not the recipient or, the result is returning to other designated address other than the one on forms.)
- Your previous passport with exit-entry records which you have ever mentioned during the online application submission or, a written explanation provided the previous passport is not kept any more. Should you never mention the previous records, please kindly ignore this item
- Picking up the passport in person/ by an authorized representative from the CVAC or;
- Requesting return of passport by courier.
My parents had already bought the high speed train tickets and are in Beijing now. Hopefully things go smoothly from there!