F Visa (consulting firms)

[sijazme]

I am currently working in Dubai and would like to apply for an F visa. I have been told that there are consulting firms in China that offer business invitation letters or help with acquiring F visas for people outside of China. Can someone please refer me to such a visa consulting company?

[889]

For several years now, the F Visa has been for cultural exchanges. Do you actually mean an M Visa, which more-or-less replaced the old F Visa for business travel.

[sijazme]

Yes, M Visa or F Visa.

I need an invitation from a "duly authorized unit".

The invitation needs to have been generated by the govt I suppose.

Thanks.

[roddy]

Where are you actually going, what for, and how long? It's a lot harder than it used to be to 'acquire' visas you're not strictly entitled to.

[sijazme]

I want to study Chinese language and just hang out in either Shenzhen or Harbin.

A 6 month chinese language course costs around $1200 in tuition fees. If I pay that I can get an X2 visa. I have a technology background and so far Beijing Institute of Technology has approved my application. My question is, if i skip many classes, is that going to be an issue with pcb?

[dtcamero]

if you have a normal tourist visa with multiple entries you can get three months at every entry... so if i were you i would just enter as a tourist for three months, after two months and 29 days take an overnight vacation to a nearby country, and when you return to the country you receive another three months. (i've done this before)

[DavyJonesLocker]

For 6 months @dtcamero seems sensible. I know one American chap doing that for years. 

[sijazme]

I want my visa to be a bit more substantive. In the sense that I want to be able to open a bank account, get a Chinese drivers license etc. I don't want to come as a tourist. X2 or M at least.