Chinese Tourist L Visa

[unithorn]

Hi,

I'm hoping a couple of you here might be able to help me on the new visa restrictions / regulations.

I'm a(n optimistic) UK passport holder and was hoping to come to China for 2 months. I was hoping not to book too much and too to travel around on a whim rather than a regimented tour. However when trying to apply for the visa I am required to;

a) give details of every place I intend to stay (not sure if they therefore also all have to be booked before I even get the visa?

b) give an invitation letter

Now I don't have any friends who are in mainland china that I can ask to write an initiation, so what are the best possible alternatives?

Also I have been reading that the visas tend to only give 30 days from entry within the country. Is there an easy way to extend this to 60-90 days?

[abcdefg]

Search this topic on Thorn Tree. It has been covered to death. Your questions have all been asked and answered dozens or hundreds of times. If there's something specific you can't find, then return and we will try to help you out.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forum.jspa?forumID=19

[unithorn]

Ah, thank you. I shall go and have a read.

[anonymoose]

You don't need to give a detailed itinerary. Just write the first or the main place you will be going. You may have to provide evidence for accomodation, but if you book for the first night only, that should be enough. Having said that, they've never asked for anything like that when I've applied.

Also, what kind of visa are you applying for? If it's just a tourist visa, then you shouldn't need an invitation letter (unless this is a new requirement).

[unithorn]

Yeah, I'm just applying for a Tourist Visa. It is looking like so long as I have the onward journey flights and hotel for at least first couple of nights I should be fine.

The invitation letter does seem to be a new requirement since Aug 1st.

I'll drop back and let you know how I get on.

[edelweis]

I think you'd need an invitation letter for L visa if you are staying at a private home (with friends or family) and not at a hotel.

[abcdefg]

Having said that, they've never asked for anything like that when I've applied.

Some requirements changed in June; even more changed in August. It's more complicated than it used to be.

[xiaoxiaocao]

If a hotel booking is required, go to http://www.hostelbookers.com or a similar site. You can book a room with no money down. Print out your booking for use at the consulate and then cancel your online booking.

Ever since the Beijing (attempted) rape incident it has been much harder obtaining visas in the UK.

[bad_dream_house]

I think you will be fine in applying for a visa longer than 30 days. 2 months ago I applied for a tourist visa in UK but wanted to stay for 35 days. I just put 35 days for intended stay and was given visa for 40 days no problem. That was July so don't know about any new restrictions in August but I think it was either invitation letter or return air travel booked. I just submitted copy of flights, first two nights accomodation booking and last two nights accomodation booking (easy to do if you have booked flights) and just put these two cities on my itinery with the address of a friend I was visiting inbetween and their name as my contact in China. Picked up visa next day no problem so wouldn't be too worried