Questions regarding getting new visa for UK passport holder

[FlashZac]

A little background. I came to Beijing from the UK at end of August on a 6-month tourist visa. I'm Chinese born and my father is in China, so that helps with getting a visa, although I didn't have to supply his details for getting the visa.

My situation is that I've planned to go back to the UK for Christmas and am not sure how to handle my visa situation. I'd like to come back and stay for the foreseeable future so would either have to add entry then extend visa, or apply for a new visa.

I'd researched that it's not possible to add entries to an existing visa, so that option's gone.

This is a long shot, but is it possible to get a new visa whilst in China?

Otherwise, I'm thinking my best option is to get a new visa while in the UK. This isn't ideal as I'd have to stay for longer than I had originally planned for and it'd also have to change my returning plane ticket date which would incur costs.

Any advice is much appreciated.

[liuzhou]

Although you can extend a visitor's visa while you remain in China, you can't obtain a visa in China which allows you to leave China then re-enter at some future date.

You will have to get a new visa in the UK.

[roddy]

What about 1/2/multiple entry L and F visas. These were certainly available a couple of years back (I have a passport full of 'em. Surely people on spousal L visas aren't having to reapply overseas every time they leave the country?

[liuzhou]

The OP specified a tourist visa. Presumably single entry otherwise there would be no problem.

Surely people on spousal L visas aren't having to reapply overseas every time they leave the country?

Yes they are. Always have been.

[FlashZac]

Thanks for the clarification liuzhou. I figured I'd probably have to get a new visa whilst in the UK. Ah well.

[Cat Jones]

Last time I applied for an L visa in the UK, I could only get a 60 day visa with 1 entry. That was back in August.

The visa centres in the UK are pretty quick though to be fair. I've had my visa back within a week by post, and if you went in person to drop it off, you can have it sent back to you within 3 days if you select express service. How long are you in the UK for. Oh and check the office doesn't close over Christmas!