Can I change my Tourist Visa to Spouse Visa?

[syke]

First let my explain my situation.

I came in on a L visa in July. It was only valid for 30days entry. I extended it in August. It will run out on September 10th.

My GF and I will be going to the marriage registration office as soon as my 'certificate of no impediment' is ready.

I live in a small town in Anji, Huzhou province.

I thought we would be able to change it locally but from what my GF found out, after she called the entry-exit bureau, was that they never dealt with this sort of thing before.

So they would only allow to extend for maybe for a few days to at most being a month.

Now, I read in other places that a tourist visa can be changed to an spouse visa that last between 6 to 12 months.

I am wondering if it is still possible for me to get one done, and if so how?

If it helps, I am from the UK. MY GF's hukou is Anji, Huzhou province.

One more question, would I need to be registered to be living in Anji to get married as currently I am registered as staying in Yiwu.

[fanglu]

China does not have spouse visas, as far as I know. Usually you can get a longer tourist/family visit than someone not married to a Chinese citizen, however. You would need to apply for that new visa outside china.

[jbradfor]

For spouses, I believe what you want is called a "long term residence permit". I forgot the Chinese name, can find it if need be. This is not a visa (although there is a visa you can get if you are outside China and want to enter China to apply for a long term residence permit). This is often called a "Chinese Green Card", but that is a bit of a misnomer as unlike the USA Green Card after which it is named, AFAIK this is not actually a path to Chinese citizenship.

[Matty]

The D-Visa (Green Card) is given after 5 years of marraige living at least 9 out of each 12 months in mainland China and only if you're very luck and pay all your taxes, this is not the visa for this situation.

What you can get for being married to a full Chinese citizen is a 1 year tourist visa. As I understand this process is rather simple once married. Possibly the Entry-Exit Bureau have no idea what a spouse visa is, as it doesn't exist. Simply ask them for the 1 year tourist visa you can get for being married to a Chinese citizen, if they still don't know, ask them to make some calls.

As I've not had direct experince I'm sure some others here can give better first hand details.

I doubt you would have to leave the country as it's an L-Visa and this can be issued in the mainland. (But of course you'll need to be married and have all the documentation first)

[jbradfor]

The D-Visa (Green Card)

Minor correction. You do not want the D-visa. This just gets you into China for 30 days in order to apply for the Permanent Residence Permit. See here, for example. Just to keep our terminology correct.

As Matty said, for now you might need a L visa; as a spouse, you should be able to get a long-term one. Long term, if you can swing it, a Permanent Residence Permit is best.

[syke]

Yes, you are right, I want a tourist visa that will let me stay for 12months. I just read elsewhere and assumed it was a spouse visa as that is what others called it.

Pretty much, what is the process to get this? Any links to information will help. The lady my GF talked to said she wasn't sure how long they could get one. And the reaction I got from my GF to what she said seemed like this person is not willing to do any runaround or extra work to help anyone out.

Personally, I just need one that can let me stay for at least 6 months without having to leave China.