I searched for this on the forum and didnt find any info (not that i did a deep search this the keywords are too broad).

I'm going back to China soon, but with a L-Visa.

The requirements to get an L-Visa list that I need a hotel booking for my stay.

The other option is a proof of kinship.



I'll be living at a friend's apartment (paying my share of the rent and all).
What do I do? Obviously there's no "kinship", but neither is he a hotel.

What do people do in my situation? What's the equivalency? Photocopy of my friend's lease?

easier to make an online booking and print the booking page out so you can get your visa.

Does it have to match with my return ticket?

Basically Im planning a 90 day stay (renew L-visa twice) and hopefully find an interesting job by then.

So my plane ticket would be 3 months after my arrival.

Booking a hotel for 3 months and cancelling? :-p

I could just FAKE the printed out booking I guess.

Anyway I'm guessing their "slack" over issuing the visa depends on the embassy/consulate.

Basically, the one in Ottawa is pretty slack if you're Canadian.

ugh I guess I'll have to drive up there and spend a full day in a computer cafe to "meet" the required documents eh?

Not 100% sure about this, but thinking logically, your first problem might be with your plane ticket. If they ask to see it and you have a return date 90 days later, they may not even give you the 30 day visa. There is some confusion about the whole visa thing recently so I would look into this. May want to think about coming with a 30 day plane ticket (pay a little more to be able to change it) and have your friend go to a travel agency here and have them make up an itinerary for a trip around China. With this itinerary it is easier to get the visa. Have friends who have done this.

Then again, I am far from an expert on this, so maybe someone with more knowledge on the subject could confirm........

well as I said, I'll go to the embassy and attempt with basic documents. If they ask for more, I'll just print out the stuff from an internet cafe and return.

I found some info from people who said they frequently went to China on a L-visa with one-way tickets.

They rarely look at return tix unloess you are a suspected political activist, hippie, druggie, FLGist or freedom fighter for th East T-something-stan.

They don't need return tickets and if your friend has a permanent residence permit he can write the invitation letter and thats all you need to stay there for the term of your visa. return tickets are needed if getting your Visa in Hong kong though

^ Wrong.

In many countries now they want to see round-trip tickets. Also, rarely is a handwritten letter valid for visa issuance even if the individual has permanent residence -- which is not likely anyhow.

underh20 wrote:^ Wrong.

In many countries now they want to see round-trip tickets. Also, rarely is a handwritten letter valid for visa issuance even if the indovidual has permanent residence -- which is not likely anyhow.

Are you the Chinese Government? Immigration?? then don't be so arrogant as to say I am wrong when you don't kno what you are talking about. I am simply offering advice from my experience of getting L visa's several times a year as recently as last week. How dare you! It's people like you and your attitude to criticising other people efforts at helping others that put off many people I know from using this forum. And I did not say a "handwritten letter" would would be valid. I have, as recently as last week arranged letters to be 'written' by people with premanent residency to support L visa applications and the Visas HAVE been issued...so not likely hey!!! I notice you just criticise my effort to help but don't actually provide any useful info yourself...But out!

DaffyinCHina wrote:

underh20 wrote:^ Wrong.

In many countries now they want to see round-trip tickets. Also, rarely is a handwritten letter valid for visa issuance even if the indovidual has permanent residence -- which is not likely anyhow.

Are you the Chinese Government? Immigration?? then don't be so arrogant as to say I am wrong when you don't kno what you are talking about. I am simply offering advice from my experience of getting L visa's several times a year as recently as last week. How dare you! It's people like you and your attitude to criticising other people efforts at helping others that put off many people I know from using this forum. And I did not say a "handwritten letter" would would be valid. I have, as recently as last week arranged letters to be 'written' by people with premanent residency to support L visa applications and the Visas HAVE been issued...so not likely hey!!! I notice you just criticise my effort to help but don't actually provide any useful info yourself...But out!

How many people with permanent residency do you actually know?

It's morons like you who don't know WTF they are talking about that make this forum a Buyer Beware site for those seeking accurate information.

Whether the letter is handwritten or typed, the fact is that others have had the experience that when a hotel reservation is required, they will not just take a letter from some two-bit trigger pumping moron like you (or your supposed friends with permanent residence).

When staying at a private residence consulates usually demand a copy of the owner's deed and a clear family relationship between said owner and the visa applicant.

You must be on an R visa, right?

You are a F****wit. Everyone I know in China is a permanent resident so thats about 80 people not including all of my husbands work colleagues...so how does the amount of permanent residents I now have anything to do with this. How can I not know what I am talking about with regards to L visa applications when I go through the same process regularly...do you?? L Visa requirements ask for a Hotel booking confirmation OR if you are staying at a relative/friends house they require a letter of Invitation from the resident with ID etc. You talk as if I have somehow fiddled the system and am lying about how things work. I have simply followed the rules given by the Visa Agency and re-told the story here. I also stated that Hong Kong ask for different terms so I have not denied that some agencies may ask for different requirements. I simply stated my experience. It "morons" like me who give good, solid, HONEST advice rather than going around telling people they are WRONG when they are not rather than simpy clarifying with facts. Its morons like you who clog up useful streams with rubbish arguments because they have nothing better to do in life

DaffyinChina wrote:You are a F****wit. Everyone I know in China is a permanent resident so thats about 80 people not including all of my husbands work colleagues...so how does the amount of permanent residents I now have anything to do with this. How can I not know what I am talking about with regards to L visa applications when I go through the same process regularly...do you?? L Visa requirements ask for a Hotel booking confirmation OR if you are staying at a relative/friends house they require a letter of Invitation from the resident with ID etc. You talk as if I have somehow fiddled the system and am lying about how things work. I have simply followed the rules given by the Visa Agency and re-told the story here. I also stated that Hong Kong ask for different terms so I have not denied that some agencies may ask for different requirements. I simply stated my experience. It "morons" like me who give good, solid, HONEST advice rather than going around telling people they are WRONG when they are not rather than simpy clarifying with facts. Its morons like you who clog up useful streams with rubbish arguments because they have nothing better to do in life

Congratulations, ****; it's morons like you that can't even be trusted to know WTF permanent residency is let alone what Chinese consulates in many countries are demanding. Does your brain hurt when you think?

I know it'll be too much for your pea-brain to comprehend and you'll only pull excuses out of your ass when you learn that your husband or his colleagues do not have permanent residency. There are only about 700 permanent residents in China. Your husband and the rest of your inbred trailer-park clan are temporary residents.

On the off chance that retards like you can actually read, take a look at your husband's passport and notice the sticker that reads "RESIDENCE PERMIT FOR FOREIGNERS IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA" with a valid-until date usually one year after the date of issuance. HTF can something valid for one year be permanent? Don't they have schools on your planet albeit special education centers for morons like you?

So now that we've seen that your ability to understand even basic terminology and logic is on par with a retarded chimp, anything you say about written letters in lieu of hotel reservations is equally suspect.

I move to nominate you as Forum **** of the Month.

To Under2braincells, Guaranteed I have a higher IQ than you. As we are on an Expat site, CLEARLY I am talking about normal run of the mill expats who would have as you like to call it a "RESIDENCE PERMIT FOR FOREIGNERS IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA". The people out here on L visas have the Temporary Residence permits. The people on "RESIDENCE PERMIT FOR FOREIGNERS IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA" ARE able to provide the letters of invitation. How many languages would you like me to say that in for you to understand??? If you still think I am wrong then I suggest you take the issue up with Immigration because they have been allowing people with "RESIDENCE PERMIT FOR FOREIGNERS IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA" to write the letters and they have accepted them.

DaffyinChina wrote:To Under2braincells, Guaranteed I have a higher IQ than you. As we are on an Expat site, CLEARLY I am talking about normal run of the mill expats who would have as you like to call it a "RESIDENCE PERMIT FOR FOREIGNERS IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA". The people out here on L visas have the Temporary Residence permits. The people on "RESIDENCE PERMIT FOR FOREIGNERS IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA" ARE able to provide the letters of invitation. How many languages would you like me to say that in for you to understand??? If you still think I am wrong then I suggest you take the issue up with Immigration because they have been allowing people with "RESIDENCE PERMIT FOR FOREIGNERS IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA" to write the letters and they have accepted them.

Are all people on your planet such dumb twats like you?

Now that we've clarified that I have ESP for predicting that you'd pull retarded excuses out of your fat ass, let's look at L visas. People on L visas do not have residence permits. So, Einstein, we've established that only Z and X visa holders have residence permits albeit not permanent residency as you claimed.

The fact is that now during the Olympic period Chinese consulates are not usually accepting written invitation letters unless from relatives and then accompanied by the deed to the property.

But wouldn't expect a **** like you to understand that. You're too bust working out WTF a residence permit is or isn't. You must be the oldest person now in your second-grade class, no?

AHHHHH yes your are so right...my Temporary residence permit is not a Temporary residence permit after all...its called "Form of Temporary Residence" I STAND CORRECTED. And the 2 families I know who are arriving next week...oh during the Olympic games...were not given their visas via a letter of invitation by a person holding a "RESIDENCE PERMIT FOR FOREIGNERS IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA" only...oh they were. This is getting boring. Why do you have to be so argumentative? Why can't you just accept that I have given details of how my experience has been...which is fact!!It HAS happened, but yes it may not apply to EVERYONE from EVERY country on earth but isn't this what forums are all about...People share their experiences in order for others to gain a wider perspective of an issue. We are not stating law just how things have happened to us...its not about being ABSOLUTELY correct its about looking at others experiences and then going off and finding out how you may use the information to help yourself. I GIVE UP!! I was only trying to help. I bet Alkizmo is super happy about his thread now!!

DaffyinChina wrote:AHHHHH yes your are so right...my Temporary residence permit is not a Temporary residence permit after all...its called "Form of Temporary Residence" I STAND CORRECTED. And the 2 families I know who are arriving next week...oh during the Olympic games...were not given their visas via a letter of invitation by a person holding a "RESIDENCE PERMIT FOR FOREIGNERS IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA" only...oh they were. This is getting boring. Why do you have to be so argumentative? Why can't you just accept that I have given details of how my experience has been...which is fact!!It HAS happened, but yes it may not apply to EVERYONE from EVERY country on earth but isn't this what forums are all about...People share their experiences in order for others to gain a wider perspective of an issue. We are not stating law just how things have happened to us...its not about being ABSOLUTELY correct its about looking at others experiences and then going off and finding out how you may use the information to help yourself. I GIVE UP!! I was only trying to help. I bet Alkizmo is super happy about his thread now!!

Could you be any stupider? If there were an Olympic event in retardedness, you'd get the gold, silver and bronze all rolled into one medal.

Are you saying that your have an entry in your passport stating "Form of Temporary Residence"? Resident permits are stamped into one's passport. If you haven't a residence permit as previously described in your passport, you are not considered anything but a visitor.

The document you are describing is what everybody from a tourist to a residence permit holder gets when they register at the local police station. Itis simply proof of registration and does not confer any type of residency status. Of course explaining this to a moron like you is akin to giving a pig a watch, but some people do believe in miracles.

Now, is there anything else you'd like to pull out of your ass? Is there a VW Beetle up there, too?

Let's make a deal; I'll be nice if you stop being such a retard. Ok?

stupider? no such word! I am more than fully aware what the permits are....why are you ranting on about them??...the issue is not my or your understanding of what they are, the fact is that I said people with "RESIDENCE PERMIT FOR FOREIGNERS IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA" stamped in their ruddy passports CAN issue a letter of invitation. You disagreed with me BUT I know 2 families arriving during the Olympics that have gained their L visas by having these letters written by people holding these types of permits. Maybe you need to stop throwing personal attacks and spending time thinking up rude, abusive insults and try to remember what all this was originally about. You have a bully like mentality where they have to constantly put others down to make themselves feel and look better...its not big and its not clever!!

Hey Taffy, you gotta learn that undershit, (sorry about the typos), is never, never wrong , and has a huge ego, and a small .......... , and much better to ignore a piece of excrament like that, who does nothing positive to a post.

Thanks!!!

MoaningLisaPees wrote:Hey Taffy, you gotta learn that undershit, (sorry about the typos), is never, never wrong , and has a huge ego, and a small .......... , and much better to ignore a piece of excrament like that, who does nothing positive to a post.

See, another moronic statement from our geriatric **** king, MoaningLisaPees.

There's a big difference between always right (which I am not) and always stupid (which you are).

But if I were you and worried about face, I'd also spout the same drivel.

zzzzzzZZZz

^ Shall we wait 10 seconds to hear you say that is what you have in your passport, too?

Oh, and Webster's seems to think you are an utter brainless twit.

Earth is full. Go home.

outside of the mudslinging you both did...which by th eway was entertaining because the two of you both handled it so well...

I doubt that taffy's friends, all 80 of them actually have PERMANENT Reesidency as teh requirements of that particular status is so high that you might as do a race change to CHINESE to qualify. ( or be a sell out like DaShan i suppose)

Anyhow, what I believe Taffy is mistaken for a Permanent Residency is the standard yearly renewed (for most people) Residency permit that is stuck in the damned passport. That is NOT a PERMANENT Residency at all.

Anyhow, back OP's thread on L Visas and to the invitations. Back when they would allow any tom dick and harry over on an L or F visa, maybe a basic invitation would be enough, but now it seems there may be more stringent requirements. Best to check with the consulate when applying for the visa rather than a bunch of us fcukwits on a public forum. Its one thing to share our own experiences, but in this day and ae, by no means should anyone take it as fact as facts keep changing these days in regards to Visas for China. Good luck.

yu888 wrote:( or be a sell out like DaShan i suppose).

what's the story behind that?

yu888 wrote:outside of the mudslinging you both did...which by th eway was entertaining because the two of you both handled it so well...

WTF? You're going soft, Yu. Or maybe I am.

yu888 wrote:I doubt that taffy's friends, all 80 of them actually have PERMANENT Reesidency as teh requirements of that particular status is so high that you might as do a race change to CHINESE to qualify. ( or be a sell out like DaShan i suppose)

Yeah, DaShan's kneecaps must be worn thin.

Stop arguing guys...

You DO NOT need PERMANENT residency to invite a friend to stay with you.
The current procedure for getting an L visa (according to the embassy in Manila);

Return flight ticket.
Proof of accommodation for the WHOLE stay.

Proof of accom can either be in a hotel, or in a friends/relatives house. For a friend to invite you, they need to give you a copy of the photo page of their passport, AND a copy of their RESIDENCE visa. If your friend is on an L or F visa they will not be able to invite you. Your friend also needs to write a covering letter, inviting you to china. This is best done on your company's headed notepaper, stating your name, passport number, address, how long your friend is staying, and contact numbers/email address.

^ In Malaysia it might work, but in the US they are now demanding a) kinship and b) the actual property deed.

As Yu mentioned, checking yourself at the consulate where you intend to apply is the smart move.

Monkey, thanks for clarifying what I had been stating all along. Clearly you are more articulate than a "moron" like me.

Darn...I just got back from Korea, thought I would log on and catch up on all the mudslinging...

And you two have quit!

(sigh)