That's about right. From what I've heard it really depends on the officer who issues your visa. You can ask for more on your application but don't expect more than 30 days.

But if you get it, then awesome, if not then converting to an F once you get to Beijing is about as convenient as it gets (if not a financial hassle).

Hi there,

Actually, you do not need to get a F visa when you come to China. First, the application is more bother than L visa. Second, it's so easy to stay in China for a long time though you take a L visa.

It's a good idea that you apply for a 60-day or 90-day L visa directly, but it's difficult to get it. You must obtained such the visa before, and provide the copy one to Embassy. If it's your first time to come to China, get a long time visa is impossible.

So I suggest you to get a L visa when you come, then convert it to 6 months F visa in China. The price is not very expensive, and I think it's more convenient for you.

If you need help about your visa, please contact me. I can help you!
Email: Alysia_yang@yahoo.cn
Tel: 15811382273

Hope you all the best!

Alysia

hello,
In fact,you can get L visa when you come to China easily.Then when you come to China,you can convert your L visa to F visa.
All you need is :your passport,registration form,your L visa,and colorful pics in 2 inch,full length portrait and with white background.
IF you are avilable you can do this by yourself,If not,I can help you.
Regards,
Frank xu
Telephone：13466728990
Email: Frank.0601@yahoo.com
MSN: Frank.0601@hotmail.com
QQ：296877445
web page:www.that'schina.com

just send you the message,please check
good luck

Your understanding is correct. The best possible deal for you is to get, while you are in the USA, a 12-month multientry L tourist visa, with 90 days duration of stay. These are fairly routinely given out, even to people without previous visas in their passport. The fee you pay is the same regardless of # entries or duration of stay, so you might as well go for it. Go for the 12 month not the 6 month, and you'll be more likely to get 90 days over 60 days duration. You need nothing more than the completed application form, fee, photo, passport. I strongly recommend you do this through a US-based agent though and not by yourself, even if there's a consulate just up the street from you. Your chances of getting what you ask for will improve. Remember that you cannot mail anything directly to Embassy or Consulates. I use www.mychinavisa.com and go through their Houston office (which is buddy-buddy with the legendarily cooperative Chinese Consulate in Houston). I'll be using them again in about 3 weeks when I go back to the US from China for a month. They have downloadable form from their website. When you look at the form, you'll see the choice of boxes to click for duration of the entire visa, also a place to write in your longest stay in which you should put 90.

With the May Chinese holiday intervening--which the Chinese missions there will observe--if you send out your stuff ASAP, you might have your passport/visa back end of next week (use FedEx for to/from agent). With this visa in hand, a border run or two is not a big deal, and you can safely avoid further need to deal with the PSB or local agents here, unless you want/need to completely change your visa. Remember that local agents here have no clue about visa issuance to US citizens in the USA, and they want to sell you expensive services once you get here...so don't expect impartial advice from most of them.

For a US citizen applying in the USA, this is an absolute lie. And you don't need an F visa, just get the L and you won't need the invitation letter (which by the way, for US citizens applying in the USA for the F, doesn't need to come from the Bureau of Commerce--it can come from any Chinese business or even your home country company).

It's amazing...the crap local Chinese agents put out without having a clue what they are talking about.