China Visa Application Requirements - Private Visa (S1)
Jan 23, 2018 10:06:48 GMT -5
Post by travelar on Jan 23, 2018 10:06:48 GMT -5
China S1 visa is issued to those who intend to go to China to live with the immediate family member working or studying in China, or to those who intend to go to China for other private affairs. It is usually issued for one entry with duration of stay of 000 (means to be determined). Holder of S1 visa should enter China within 90 days after visa is issued and must register at local public security bureau within 30 days of arrival, where the China Residence Permit will be issued to replace S1 visa to allow multiple entry for one year or longer. S1 visa is not guaranteed. Chinese Consulate may issue you a S2 visa instead at their discretion. In order to apply for China S1 Visa, please prepare and send in your application according to the detail requirement explained below.
Please prepare your application paperwork according to the instruction below
1 Actual passport, plus a photocopy of the name page
Please submit your actual passport. Visa will be issued in the passport.
Passport should have at least 12 months validity left. Otherwise, you must renew your passport first. If you need passport services, please visit our expedited passport services section.
Passport should have at least 2 blank visa pages. The last 3 pages in US passports are not visa pages. These are amendment pages, reserved by the US Department of State for amendment to the passport. They won't be acceptable for visas. If your passport has no blank visa pages left, you may add additional visa pages. If you need passport services, please visit our expedited passport services section.
If you have a valid China visa in another passport, you will need to submit that passport together with the new passport when applying for a new visa.
Non-US passport holders must provide a photocopy of the US Green Card (Exception: notarized copy is required, if you reside in CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, WI. Origin US Green Card is required, if you reside in AZ, Southern CA, HI, NM, Pacific Islands) or a valid long term US residence visa such as: L, H, F, TN. Please note B1/B2 visa doesn't count.
Some non-US passport holders (holding passport from countries on the attached list ) are required to apply in person.
2 One Visa Application Form V.2013 per person
Please fill out the application form on your computer, print a hard copy and sign it.
Hand written form is not acceptable.
All fields are mandatory. If a section doesn't apply, please type in "None" or "N/A'. Incomplete form will be rejected.
Please check for omission and error before you print the form. Change or correction is not allowed on the printed form. You must print a new form in case of any change or correction.
Please print out and submit only single-sided pages of the application, not back to back.
Please do not use staple. Paper clip is fine.
3 One recent passport-type photograph
Full face, frontal with a plain white or off-white background, 33mm (wide) x 48mm (tall) in size.
Photo printed on regular paper or photo of poor quality is not acceptable.
Photo needs to be taken within 6 months.
Please use paper clip to attach the photo face-down (avoid scratching) to the form. Do not staple or glue the photo.
Please refer to the link for China visa photo specific requirement.
4 An invitation letter from the inviting individual (a foreigner who stays or resides in China for work or studies)
The invitation letter should contain:
Information on the applicant (full name, gender, date of birth, passport #, etc.)
Information on the visit (purpose of visit, arrival and departure dates, place(s) to be visited, relations between the applicant and the inviting individual, financial source for expenditures,etc.)
Information on the inviter (name, contact number, address, signature etc.)
A photocopy of inviter's supporting paperwork, such as Notification of Work Permit (Z visa) OR JW202 and Admission Notice (X1 visa) together with inviter's passport copy is required. The accompanying family information such as name and passport number should be on the inviter's Work Permit.
If the inviter is already in China, copy of inviter's China residence permit is also required. Click for a China residence permit sample.
Invitation letter should be signed by the inviter and can be submitted as a photocopy by scan & email or fax in most cases. However, original invitation might be requested at visa officer's discretion.
Please refer to the link below for sample invitation letters:
Sample private invitation letter for L, Q or S visa
5 Proof of kinship
Original and photocopy of certification (marriage certificate, birth certificate, certification of kinship issued by Public Security Bureau or notarized certification of kinship) showing the relationship of immediate family members between applicants and inviting individual.
"Immediate family members" refers to spouses, parents, sons or daughters under the age of 18 or parents-in-law.
6 Submit the online Visa Services Request Form
This is the best way to tell us your application is coming as well as your return address and contact information so that confirmation and status updated can be sent to you via email.
Multiple applicants can be entered using one service request form.
Please print two copies of the confirmation page.
Please include one copy with the documents you ship to us and keep one copy for your records.
Please prepare your application paperwork according to the instruction below
1 Actual passport, plus a photocopy of the name page
Please submit your actual passport. Visa will be issued in the passport.
Passport should have at least 12 months validity left. Otherwise, you must renew your passport first. If you need passport services, please visit our expedited passport services section.
Passport should have at least 2 blank visa pages. The last 3 pages in US passports are not visa pages. These are amendment pages, reserved by the US Department of State for amendment to the passport. They won't be acceptable for visas. If your passport has no blank visa pages left, you may add additional visa pages. If you need passport services, please visit our expedited passport services section.
If you have a valid China visa in another passport, you will need to submit that passport together with the new passport when applying for a new visa.
Non-US passport holders must provide a photocopy of the US Green Card (Exception: notarized copy is required, if you reside in CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, WI. Origin US Green Card is required, if you reside in AZ, Southern CA, HI, NM, Pacific Islands) or a valid long term US residence visa such as: L, H, F, TN. Please note B1/B2 visa doesn't count.
Some non-US passport holders (holding passport from countries on the attached list ) are required to apply in person.
2 One Visa Application Form V.2013 per person
Please fill out the application form on your computer, print a hard copy and sign it.
Hand written form is not acceptable.
All fields are mandatory. If a section doesn't apply, please type in "None" or "N/A'. Incomplete form will be rejected.
Please check for omission and error before you print the form. Change or correction is not allowed on the printed form. You must print a new form in case of any change or correction.
Please print out and submit only single-sided pages of the application, not back to back.
Please do not use staple. Paper clip is fine.
3 One recent passport-type photograph
Full face, frontal with a plain white or off-white background, 33mm (wide) x 48mm (tall) in size.
Photo printed on regular paper or photo of poor quality is not acceptable.
Photo needs to be taken within 6 months.
Please use paper clip to attach the photo face-down (avoid scratching) to the form. Do not staple or glue the photo.
Please refer to the link for China visa photo specific requirement.
4 An invitation letter from the inviting individual (a foreigner who stays or resides in China for work or studies)
The invitation letter should contain:
Information on the applicant (full name, gender, date of birth, passport #, etc.)
Information on the visit (purpose of visit, arrival and departure dates, place(s) to be visited, relations between the applicant and the inviting individual, financial source for expenditures,etc.)
Information on the inviter (name, contact number, address, signature etc.)
A photocopy of inviter's supporting paperwork, such as Notification of Work Permit (Z visa) OR JW202 and Admission Notice (X1 visa) together with inviter's passport copy is required. The accompanying family information such as name and passport number should be on the inviter's Work Permit.
If the inviter is already in China, copy of inviter's China residence permit is also required. Click for a China residence permit sample.
Invitation letter should be signed by the inviter and can be submitted as a photocopy by scan & email or fax in most cases. However, original invitation might be requested at visa officer's discretion.
Please refer to the link below for sample invitation letters:
Sample private invitation letter for L, Q or S visa
5 Proof of kinship
Original and photocopy of certification (marriage certificate, birth certificate, certification of kinship issued by Public Security Bureau or notarized certification of kinship) showing the relationship of immediate family members between applicants and inviting individual.
"Immediate family members" refers to spouses, parents, sons or daughters under the age of 18 or parents-in-law.
6 Submit the online Visa Services Request Form
This is the best way to tell us your application is coming as well as your return address and contact information so that confirmation and status updated can be sent to you via email.
Multiple applicants can be entered using one service request form.
Please print two copies of the confirmation page.
Please include one copy with the documents you ship to us and keep one copy for your records.