China Romance
General Discussion and Useful Links => Newbies Corner => Topic started by: lfputman3 on January 27, 2011, 01:53:31 am
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So I've been on for a few weeks now, read a large quantity of posts, but the one answer I have not found yet is to the question, What do I put on the visa for my reason for traveling to China? I know, sounds odd that I would ask that question, I know why I'm going to China, it's to go and meet that very charming lady who tugs at my heartstrings with each letter. Seriously though, is there anything I should or should not be writing on my Visa request form before I drop it at the Consulate in Chicago?
Thanks,
Lloyd
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Lloyd, I put tourist and to visit some friends. Well, it was only one friend. ;D
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hi all
i have been to china 3 times in 14 months and put tourism
no problems i go back tomorrow the 28Th January to get married
and on the Visa application i stated this they asked me about the contact details on my stay china i told them they were my future wife's details
i had no problem at all
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Way to go Joe!!!!! congratulations!!!!!!!
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Thank you all, I apologize for taking so long to thank you, but I've been at a conference, ripping my hair out and putting up with political games. Tourism it is, but I plan on going for the one year visa, driving to Chicago multiple times in one year could be a nuisance.
Lloyd
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The "one year" visa? As far as i know there is no such tourist visa available and tourist visas are very limited when it comes to extending them without leaving the country. For 1 year without leave you will need a work visa (Z), or you can apply for a Business visa (F) which depending on who you are , nationality , some luck etc you can get for 1,3,6, or for some selected countries 12months but you must leave and re-enter per every 3 months. As far as i know the 12 months one is not possible to get for first time visitors and the 6 months one only for selected well developed countries if its first visit. Lucky for you USA is ;)
Feel free to correct me if there are any changes regarding the above, visa regulations can change without prior notice in China.
The F Visa requires an official invitation. If you need help regarding this you can contact me for further details since i can provide this.
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Visas...
For Australia (I cant say for other Countries), A one-year, multiple entry tourist visa (L) is available.
This is not usually granted for the first visit to China, but will usually be granted for subsequent visits.
The limitation is , of course, you can only stay 30 days on each visit. They wont extend the 30 days when you are in China. You must leave China and return to begin the next 30 day period.
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Visas...
For Australia (I cant say for other Countries), A one-year, multiple entry tourist visa (L) is available.
This is not usually granted for the first visit to China, but will usually be granted for subsequent visits.
The limitation is , of course, you can only stay 30 days on each visit. They wont extend the 30 days when you are in China. You must leave China and return to begin the next 30 day period.
Just verified this is also an available option for Scandinavia right now not sure about others but i would guess this applies to all European well developed countries and US, Can, Aus. I was also informed noone will get this on their first visit unless under very special circumstances.
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I got 60 days at a time on my first multi entry visa good for one year. Maybe the lady at the desk liked me? ;)
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hahaha .. Jason , guess they can always use a great " Ship Builder " ?
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Jason
Interesting info.
I got multiple entry, 1 year, 30 day visa for my second visa.
I have just applied for my next 1 year multiple entry and will get 60 day stay, same as you. This time I put as "reason for visit"...to meet my wife !!!
When I asked why the difference...30day/60day..the Lady said "because you visit your wife..not tourist"
As a matter of interest, did you put "tourist" or "visit wife/fiance" on your application ??
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I just double checked the consulate web page for Chicago, nothing regarding first trips, just says that a multiple entry 90 day visa good for up to one year is available. My first trip is going to be just over two weeks long. We will see how things go, personally, I am optimistic and she is too. Second trip may not be until August/September, depends on how June is looking, I am supposed to do some side work during a Nascar event, but I will definitely be going over in September, just waiting to see how August looks for me. I am supposed to be in San Antonio for a week that month. Then I have a break at the holidays. So it makes sense that a 90 day multiple entry for one year would make more sense than driving down to Chicago to file every few months, but then I'll have to verify all of those thoughts with the folks at the consulate when I walk in the door.
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The 90 day visa is not a one year visa. Its a normal 3 months tourist visa with multiple entries thats valid for entry up to one year. But from what i read this seems enough for you. I was under the impression you intended to stay in China for ~1 year.
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Dave, I can not remember might have said to visit friends or something. But I have never been in China for more than 60 days but it would be nice if I did.
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talked to my immigration lawyer today and she told me that the visitors visa was a bad idea, should never mention that MinYing and i was to lodge the permanent residency visa as it looks like i want her here and for her to not return home before the case is decided , if she is here she can over stay her visa and not be removed , i hear different things from different lawyers and not know what to believe,
All i want is for my wife to be here with me and we can continue our lives together, There are so many hurdles to climb over, things get so hard, All i think about is my wife in China, there are so many distractions but i am so focused on the bigger picture,, No-matter how long this takes i will wait and be with my wife until we are together permanently, MinYing tells me that she will wait as long as it takes so long as we will be together always,,I have not told her that i have plans to be with her as soon as April this year, The end of April about Easter sounds good to me,,,
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John
Sorry you seem to be getting a lot of conflicting advice.
I will tell what my Lawyer told me, and what my plan was to get Ming to Australia permanently, as quickly and as efficiently as possible under a spouse visa (309)
1) Make at least 3 visits to China to meet her, her family and her friends.
2) Make sure all documentation (air tickets, hotel receipts etc) are kept
3) Make sure that we establish a frequent communication via QQ or similar and keep records of the conversations.
4) Make sure we also communicate via personal email, again keep records of all correspondemce
5) Make sure Ming gets serious about learning English
6) Get married in China !!
7) Send her some money regularly and keep records of it (the amount is not so important, but must be regularly)
8) Apply for a 309 (spouse visa) ) After a case number is given to Ming, apply for a tourist visa.
This was the plan we followed......and will continue until all is resolved. So far, no hitches !!!
I was told that it is impossible for her to get a tourist visa as a single woman, because of the overstay fears. I was told NOT to apply for a tourist visa until the case number was given. They will allow a tourist visa once they know you have applied for 309 visa.
I was given 50 or so typical questions that are asked at interview and my Lawyer told me to make sure Ming knew, understood, and could answer all of these questions.
ps...I have no idea why the "smilie" popped up instead of the number 8 in the text...cant get rid of it !!!
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Hey David,
The smile popped up because that is the code to generate that icon. Next time put a space between the 8 and the ) and you should be fine...
Sounds like your government is similar to our... not sure about the money part, but the rest is similar to what we have to go through here in Canada.
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thanks, David, I have done all the steps you mentioned up until the last one, I dont think that we will bother with the visitors visa again, I like China a lot and enjoy the time i spend there, MinYing loves to take me to see her family and friends over there and i plan to return soon, She does not mention the visitors visa anymore she is just focused on learning English now.
Happy new year to one and all,,regards MinYing and John
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Thanks MF...next time the dreaded smilies wont get me !!!
My Lawyer told me that one of the most convincing ways to demonstrate the relationship to our Immig. Dept was to show that your spouse was being financially integrated into your life. It is a
powerful arguement to them.
He advised that there are several ways that this can be achieved...
Send money to her regularly...this is easy to do on-line now.
Create a joint Bank Account...not easy to do in China..tried it..failed !!
Add her to the title deeds of your home...OK if you own it, difficult if you have a mortgage in your name.
Register her as joint tenants for electric, gas, telephone and utility Bills...so both your names show on the Bill
For me, the easier option was to set up a standard transfer every month to her Bank Account in Chengdu...costs me $10 for the transaction fee.
I also gave her a Cash Card when I was there that she can use to access money from my account here in Perth. Obviously, I have an audit trail on this to show the Immig. Dept.
I truly dont know just what the minimum requirements are that demonstrate the genuine nature of a relationship, but I guess my attitude is that if you give them a lot more than they want, you are much safer than giving them less than they want !!!
So far, so good. After 3 months in the queue, they have asked for her passport to be sent to Shanghai and asked her to complete another form...(886 Settlement Details), which is usually the process followed when the visa is approved..here's hoping ;D ;D
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David E is on to a genuine point that most western nations will not ignore, the money trail. If they can track that you are giving financial support and there is no way for them to deny that you are providing financial support it, they have less to argue about. Some immigration departments will still look for issues, such as US Immigration, because they, like the IRS feel it is there obligation to make your life a living hell. However, government taxation departments will tend to back you if you are providing financial support, just in the US, be prepared to deal with the Feds watching where you are sending the money.
Lloyd