Good thing I just got mine extended two weeks ago. Anyway, that is not very helpful to you so I will say as to your question I don't think thats true, ask several agents, there is always someone who can do it no matter what you have heard.

See Danyyu's obviously doin' the right person under the PSB desk.
THere's always someone with the right connections.
It's who you know, and more to the point, who you're doin'.

well my visa expires july 16th...I hope thins get back to normal quickly...at least I found an agency can get me 3 months visa, but thats too short

Is L-F conversation won't be available now?
Then what's the options people have now?

Ok, how much does it cost for 1month extension? Send a me a private message.
1yr working visa what exactly doc's would i need for future reference.

Does anyone have any idea when this suspension might be lifted??

from this week,the extension of F is available,maybe it is a good news,but the conversion is still suspended.

I am spreading rumors here (in other words it is hearsay, take it for what its worth which may be nothing, may be something).

Last night while eating with a Chinese friend who should know something about Chinese visas, he said that this F visa change is permanent. But being China, who knows what that really means. A couple of months ago somebody else told me that visa changes coming down the road would deal with tax issues since most working on F visas do not pay any. Later at a conference I was attending having nothing to do with visa issues, a speaker mentioned that a new tax regime for foreigners living here was in the development stages (like a new book that had to be stamped by the relevant tax authorities every year in order to get a visa renewal type of thing, again who knows?) and that it had to be done after the merger of the downtown districts (which is now completed).

For those considering getting illegal RPs, be very careful as there are many issues dealing with not having a genuine work place attached to the RP that will cause you trouble at some point, especially with the taxman. Maybe if you really know you are running away for good next year or soon after, you can take the gamble and break the law. But let me assure you, I have dealt with the Chinese Taxman and they make Gong An (PSB) look like a bunch of nannies. They are mean and wield a big stick!!! And let me make this very clear, unlike the F visa, if you have a RP issued for working here, you must pay tax or somebody must pay it for you. They will not believe that you are here on a RP and not making money. If you show no income, they will assess you taxes based on the average income of your country of origin. If you do not pay, you go to jail and get deported. They know where you live and will come to get you. I know people who have had this done.

Dear all,
I've been trying to find a webpage for the Beijing PSB branch for visas to get an idea of what is going on with the F visa extension but couldn't find anything. Seems like the internet is a jungle in this regard...

1) Does the VISA issuing branch of the PSB have a webpage?

2) Does anybody know what the current situation is for extending the F visa?

3) I've read some nasty rumours on various web pages that extending the F visa costs anywhere between 2000 - 4000 yuan. Can anyone verify this?

Thanks for your time and help, and best regards
t