L Visa and Real Estate Property
- Joined: Feb 14th, 2007
- Posts: 22
Just curious if anyone has ever gotten an L visa issued through their home country's Chinese embassy/consulate through the ownership of property in China.
Does it work the same way as having a Chinese spouse? I know you would need to present the deed and copy with your name on it to the consulate, but is it as easy as that? Are there any minimum requirements? Ie. can you just buy some shack in the woods and get a 6-12month visa OR is this just one of the things like permanent residence that exists on paper but in reality is hard or impossible to get?
coeurdelion
Re: L Visa and Real Estate Property
Seriously, when it comes to visa issues, I don't think you can compare having a house to having a spouse! Why would the authorities grant you a 12 months tourist status so that you can stay in your shack and do nothing? What are you acutally planning to do when you're in China?
12 months visa are for visiting relatives only.
FXZL - Up-to-date visa Information for China
fxzl.blogspot.com
jaemaeselian
Re: L Visa and Real Estate Property
Well I was being somewhat facetious with the shack example just clarify my question on what the minimum requirements might be.
However it says clearly on some Chinese consulate websites that having real estate property can allow you to apply for an L-visa of 6-12 months, just like that of having a spouse.
Why would they have this rule? Well for one, wealthy investors from abroad might buy vacation homes. Many countries allow foreign nationals to get visas with real estate investment. It helps the economy, and rich foreigners are the type of visitors that a country would want more than anyone else. China already has the one property per foreigner rule so there's not much to worry about in regards to excessive pumping up of property values.
All I want to know is, has anyone actually gotten a visa this way, and what are the actual requirements involved?
coeurdelion
Re: L Visa and Real Estate Property
Well, I've never heard about this before, but it might be interesting.
I know that when you apply for a green card in China real estate helps to prove you're not going to go back to your home country any more.
However, they are currently doing everything they can to reduce investment in real estate, and if there's anything China does not need from foreigners it's more money.
If you stumble across any similar statement online let me know!
FXZL - Up-to-date visa Information for China
fxzl.blogspot.com
gdbill
Re: L Visa and Real Estate Property
No, it doesn't show -- nor do they care -- that you are not going back to your home country anymore. :roll:
It simply shows you have a stable residence and won't be living under a bridge begging for money.
"Truth is not a commodity in short supply: The problem is, there's very little demand for it." -- ???
gdbill
Re: L Visa and Real Estate Property
Actually, now they are trying to discourage expats from purchasing real estate in China.
Several years ago, before they came out with the spousal L visa, owning real estate did qualify you for for some slight consideration in applying for an L visa. Where most L visas required you to leave the country every 30 days, if you owned property they would give you 90-day stays.
The same is true now. If you own property you will not get terms on your visa as good as if you were married to a Chinese national, though. You will only get longer duration of stay on your L visa. Of course, during the Olympic period all bets are off.
"Truth is not a commodity in short supply: The problem is, there's very little demand for it." -- ???