China expat applying for a tourist visa in Washington

[changxi]

Hi, I have a pretty specific situation I want to ask about, but I'm hoping someone here has been in a similar boat. I've been living in China for more than two years now, and have 4+ previous China visas in my passport (tourist, work, and student). I'm not working or studying now, so I'm here on a tourist visa. I'm planning to apply for a new one when I'm in Washington for Christmas, and I'd like to get at least 3 months. However, I'm worried because when I applied for a 6-month L visa in Kuala Lumpur recently, they only gave me 30 days (I'm assuming my previous visas were a red flag). Does anyone know the likelihood that this would also be a problem when I'm applying in my own country? Also, the reason I'm staying in China for so long is that my fiance lives here (we're waiting on his US visa). Would mentioning this help or hurt my case?

Thanks!

[abcdefg]

I'm assuming my previous visas were a red flag.

Presence of previous China visas is usually a help and not a hindrance unless you got in trouble or overstayed your time or some such. Why not just apply for a one year L visa when you are in Washington? Ask for 90 days stay with each entry. I doubt they care about your fiance and would be surprised if it influenced their decision.

I"m a US citizen and have half a dozen China visas, student and tourist. Applying in one's home country usually results in the best entry terms as opposed to applying from a third place such as Kuala Lumpur.

[changxi]

Thanks abcdefg! That's helpful.

[fanglu]

I agree with everything abcdefg wrote, but just thought I'd add:

when I applied for a 6-month L visa in Kuala Lumpur recently, they only gave me 30 days

There is a difference between the stay and validity period in Chinese visas. A single entry tourist visa usually has a 3 month validity (meaning you can enter China any time within the next three months) and a 30-90 day stay (meaning you can stay in China for that long once you enter). The stay time starts from when you enter China and expires when the number of days expire, even if this is after the expiration of the validity period.

I don't think it's common to get tourist visas with greater than 90 day stays unless you are a former Chinese citizen or married to one.

[changxi]

Well, I applied for a one-year multiple-entry visa with 90-day stays, and someone from the visa office called the next day to ask me for a detailed itinerary/documentation for why I need such long stays. She also told me that my application has to go through extra procedures at other offices, so it won't be processed in the usual four business days--she wouldn't give me an estimate of when it might be finished. I sent in documentation that we've applied for a US visa for my fiance and that it's still in process, and explained that I want to stay with him in China.

I'm concerned because I haven't heard of any of my friends running into this "extra procedures" snag. I'm wondering whether anyone here has had a similar experience. If so, how long did the processing take? And were you granted the visa?

[abcdefg]

I sent in documentation that we've applied for a US visa for my fiance and that it's still in process, and explained that I want to stay with him in China.

You gave them too much information. That was a mistake. It takes someone with a higher pay grade to sift through that and make an actual decision instead of just putting an automatic "approved" stamp on your application and sending it on through in a routine manner without further thought.

I've never heard of this "extra procedures" wrinkle, though maybe I have just been lucky. Sorry for your trouble. I always get stressed before I actually have my new visa safely in my hands.

[changxi]

Thanks, abcdefg. But to clarify, I originally submitted just the required application form. The woman at the counter saw that I'd put "freelance editor" as my occupation, and asked me to write an explanation of what I do and examples of my clients. I explained in my note that I edit medical articles destined for scientific journals. But instead of putting the pick-up date on my receipt, she asked me when my flight was, then had me write down my phone number and told me that they would call me when my visa was ready. The next day someone called and asked me for a detailed itinerary, "because most tourists stay in China for less than 30 days," and told me that my visa would not be ready in time for my flight. I explained about my fiance, and she asked me to fax in documentation. I also asked whether I could get the visa through the normal procedure if I only asked for 30 days, but she said no, it would still have to go through the extra procedures.

[roddy]

Freelance editor might as well be synonymous with troublemaking journalist.

[changxi]

Yes, I thought of that too, though I've put it on visa applications before with no problem, and I thought my explanation would diffuse any worries. Perhaps not...

[abcdefg]

...and told me that my visa would not be ready in time for my flight.

That is definitely a major bummer.

Sounds like you did everything right. Sometimes the ways of Chinese embassies and consulates are inscrutable. I had unexpected trouble this year myself. Hope it all works out to your satisfaction.

http://www.chinese-f...as-been-issued/

[fanglu]

Maybe it was the combination of the job and the long stay request that raised a red flag.

Oh well, now that you're going through the 'special procedures' (not that uncommon - it just means someone is actually checking your application as opposed to automatically approving it) you might as well give them as much information as possible.

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