MY FRIENDS "L TO F VISA" PROBLEM

Posted by englishmystery (253 days ago)

i am posting on behalf of my british friend

(a) He came as a tourist, with usual L-visa for tourist

(b) he then went to exit/entry place and got his first 1 month extension for tourist visa

(c) he then went there again to get a 2nd extension for 1 month


Now he wants F-visa the same as me, but we went to an Agency together, and they told him because he had "2 of the 1 month tourist extensions", he now has to go to hongkong to get Tourist visa and re-enter china, and then he applies for F-visa with the agency here


my questions are.......

(1) Is there anyway he can 'stay in mainland china' and still obtain his F-visa here ???

(2) If it seems like he still has to go to hongkong, where are the best agencies to use for him to obtain his F-visa?? (he is studying chinese here, but by private lessons , so does he need invitation? or can you just get F-visa for 'freelance, as i've heard HK is where most freelancers get their F-visa............ and how long would it take to get this?

best regards,
british guy , writing on behalf of my fellow british friend here

(I am based in Shanghai)

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Posted by momo8.. (253 days ago)

I'm not sure if you can change an 'L' visa which has been extended for an 'F' visa unless he has a job offer and the company is willing to sponser a 'Z' visa for him.Getting a business visa is pretty easy to do in HK,go to Hung Hom KCRC train station and go to CITS they can get you a 3 or six month multiple entry visa same day.The cost is based on nationality,Aussies pay HK$1800 for this,British citizens I'm not sure about.
I would go to HK rather than go through an agent as you are paying extra money and a return trip to HK will set your friend back around 3000.You can also contact the Chinese embassy here in HK for further information.

(I am based in Hong Kong)