*If the person in China is actually a Chinese citizen or a foreigner with a permanent residence permit, their spouse or relatives should apply for a Q visa.

Differences between S1 and S2 visa:

	S1 (long-term family visits)	S2 (short-term family visits)
Intended duration of stay	More than 180 days	No more than 180 days
Need of a medical check-up	Yes	No
Definition of family member	Spouses, parents, sons or daughters under the age of 18 or parents in-law	Spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters and parents-in-law

China Dependent (S1) Visa and Residence Permit Application

S1 Visa is issued at a PRC embassy, consulate, or other visa-issuing agencies with jurisdiction outside Mainland China. Holders of S1 visa must register at the local public security bureau within 30 days of arrival to convert their S1 visa to a residence permit, which will then allow them to exit and re-enter China multiple times during the validity period of the permit.

Requirements for Converting S1 Visa to Residence Permit

• Completed visa application form
• Original, signed passport (with at least six months before expiration)
• One recent passport-size photograph (2"x2" in size)
• Copies of the family member’s passport and residence permit
• Relationship certificate
• Health certificate of the applicant
• Copy of the family member’s Company Business License
• Copy of the family member’s Company Enterprise Code License
• An official letter from the family member’s company
• Registration form of temporary residence for visitors (issued by the hotel or the police substation of the area where the lodging takes place)

*Other supporting documents may be required in some specific cases. For example, if the family member is holding an X1 visa and studying in China, his or her school needs to provide relevant documents and an official letter.

Processing Time

It regularly takes 7 working days for processing. For express service or rush service, please feel free to contact SOFTLANDINGS for further information.

Notice

• Normally the validity period of the applicant’s residence permit cannot exceed the validity period of their family member’s residence permit.
• If the applicant is not holding an S1 visa now and wishes to convert his/her visa to a residence permit, the relationship certificate needs to be authenticated by a PRC embassy or consulate in his/her country. If the applicant is already in China, then getting the relationship certificate authenticated at his/her embassy or consulate in China works as well.

China Dependent (S2) Visa Extension Service

China Dependent (S2) visa Extension is issued to foreigners who have entered China for family visit or other private affairs on an S2 visa. Those foreigners can apply for one extension for a period of no longer than 30 days without leaving mainland China.

Requirements

• Completed visa application form
• Original, signed passport (with at least six months before expiration) (PHOTOCOPY?)
• One recent passport-size photograph (2"x2" in size)
• Copies of the family member’s passport and residence permit
• Relationship certificate
• Copy of the family member’s Company Business License
• Copy of the family member’s Company Enterprise Code License
• An official letter from the family member’s company
• Registration form of temporary residence for visitors (issued by the hotel or the police substation of the area where the lodging takes place)

*Other supporting documents may be required in some specific cases. For example, if the family member is holding an X1 visa and studying in China, his or her school needs to provide relevant documents and an official letter.

Processing Time

It regularly takes 7 working days for processing. For express service or rush service, please feel free to contact SOFTLANDINGS for further information.

Notice

Normally the extension of applicants’ stay cannot exceed the duration of stay of their current visa. For example, if they are holding a 15 days S2 visa in China, they can only extend it for another 15 days.

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