VISA Conversion

[Matt]

I will be staying in Beijing from June 2nd till August 31 with a Chinese Host Family, and then I am participating in a Language Program in Harbin from September till December. From my understanding, I will only be able to get a Tourist VISA for the Summer, because I will not have access to the documents required for the Student F VISA until mid of August, and the conversion would have to take place in Harbin and possible take a week long to convert.

I'm worried my Tourist VISA may run out before I can convert it to a Student F VISA. Is it possible to extend a tourist VISA longer than 90 days? And if so, how?.. Do I have any other options?

[xiaoxiaocao]

In my experience (Shijiazhuang, may vary in other locations) they will be able to extend it for 30 days. I have heard you can do this twice but do not have first hand knowledge of this been done. They will require 4 passport size photos and may also ask for for a bank statement showing you have enough money to get by. The processing fee will depend on your nationality, most extensions cost between 160-400 RMb while for American citizens this jumps up to 960 RMB.

This being China I am sure the process could be a little different depending on location, staff member on duty that day etc :rolleyes:

[ChinaVoyager]

If you are staying with someone in CHina why not have them contact the office closest to where you will be staying to get an answer directly. Chances are thoguh they will have to actually go to the VISA Center to ask any questions. The one here in Guangzhou never answer the phones at all.

As for changing VISA type and or extending them. I have never had an issue. I entered China on a 1 year multiple entry Business VISA from North America, then I went to Hong Kong changed it to a 90 day Tourist, then I changed my tourist VISA from HK to a business visa for 6 months at the Guangzhou Office, then I changed my VISA from Business to multiple entry Family, I just finished getting my 3rd 6 month multiple family VISA a few days ago. Since I got that VISA from Hong Kong almost 2 years ago, I have not left China at all even to go to Hong Kong or Macau. No one ever even asked me any questions, except this last time they asked if I was sure I wanted a multiple entry, they obviously knew I had not left since returning from Hong Kong a very long time ago, but I said yes and there were no problems.

Now abotu the week long thing, that is not something you need to worry about. Basically you have to take al the correct papers into the VISA office, you jump through the hoops etc, once they accept your paperwork and give you a reciept number for your passport your are finished, this means that you are approved now they just have to handle the paperwork themselves. I always go to the VISA office 2 workign days prior to my current visa expiration, I do this just incse there is a problem. But basically as long as your VIsa has nto expired and you apply prior to its expiration the moment they take your passport and issue you a reciept, you are legally here even though you have niether a visa or passport in your possession

Oh and another thng I NEVER return to pick up my passport, I awlays sign the receipt and send someone else to get it for me.

Having said all of that, in China I have learned there are not many hard and fast rules about the way various offices will do things.

[driftman]

a tourist visa can - usually - be extended twice for 30 days each