Family Visa (S1/S2/Q1/Q2)

Family Visa: Issued for visiting family relatives in China.

Different Categories of Family Visas

S1 Visa: For those intending to visit an immediate family member in China that has valid residence permit. S1 visa is single-entry visa valid for 3 months.

S2 Visa: For those intending to visit a family member in China who has a valid residence permit. Usually it is a multiple entry / long validity visa, allowing each entry to stay less than 90 or 180 days.

Q1 Visa: 颁发给回国和亲人团聚、在华停留超过180天的申请人。签证发出后必须在3个月内入境且仅有效一次。

Q2 Visa: 颁发给探亲且每次停留不超过180天的人士。有效期通常为10年，可多次往返。

Core Documents

Your Valid Passport

Minimum of 2 blank pages required
At least 6 months’ validity for single-entry visas
At least 12 months’ validity for a 10-year visa

Residence Verification Documents

A copy of your state-issued driver’s license
or state-issued resident ID (photocopy)
or a recent utility bill/bank statement (copy)

Visa Photograph

A digital photo is required to initiate your Visa Application.
Please refer to our Chinese Visa Photo Guide for requirements.
Photograph should be taken within the last 6 months.

China Online Visa Application (COVA)

Select North America, locate the United States, and choose Washington D.C.
Don’t forget to save your application ID.
Complete the form as thoroughly as possible! Our team at Oasis will review and guide you through any necessary adjustments.
Do not submit until Oasis has completed the review and given you instructions.

Original Chinese Passport

Only required if the applicant was born in China.
在中国出生的美籍签证申请人在第一次申请中国签证时需提供其最后一本的中国护照原件
如无法提供，签证的审理时间会根据情况延长

Documents from the Inviting person

Invitation Letter / (邀请信）

Sample download
can be hand-written, or typed
Invitation Letter must be hand-signed
Invitation Letter can be email and printed as photocopy

Invitating person eligibility verification / (邀请人的个人身份证件复印件）

Photocopy of the inviting person’s valid U.S Passport (required for S1 & S2)
Photocopy of the inviting person’s valid Chinese Visa & Chinese residence permit ( required for S1 & S2)
邀请人的中国身份证复印件，正反面 ( required for Q1 & Q2)
Documents to proof the family relations (required for S1 / Q1 / S2 first time application)

Minor applicant

Photocopy of the minor applicant’s birth certificate
Photocopy of both parents / legal guradian’s valid passport, or I.D

Conditional Documents

The following documents are not listed on the Embassy’s official website but may be needed in certain cases. We may suggest applicants prepare these documents in advance to streamline the application process. Please note that processing times may differ depending on individual situations:

U.S. Naturalization Certificate (first time application of naturalized U.S citizens)
Green Card (for non-U.S. citizens)
Employer’s verification letter
Passports from any previous or other nationalities
Records of previous Chinese Visas or Chinese residence permits

If any documents are missing, it does not necessarily prevent the processing of your application. Our dedicated visa specialists are here to help you prepare and submit your application accurately.

Estimated Costs

Our standard processing fee for S2 or Q2 family visiting visa applications is $200/ per application, and for S1 or Q1 visas, it’s $260 / per application. Additionally, there is a Chinese Embassy Visa Application Fee of $140 for U.S. citizens. We also charge $20 for FedEx 2nd-day shipping, which includes tracking, Direct Signature confirmation at the time of delivery, and insurance up to $500 per package. For families applying together, we offer a discount of $20 for each additional application in the same order.

For expedited processing, we strive to complete your application as quickly as possible. The service fee for expedited processing is $400, plus an Embassy Fee of $165 for U.S. citizens, and priority overnight FedEx shipping costs $51.35.

Passport turn-around Time

After submitting your application to the Chinese Embassy, the usual processing period is 4-5 business days. Be advised that additional time is necessary for reviewing, preparing, and shipping your application before submission. We suggest initiating the process 3-4 weeks prior to your intended travel dates.

For expedited processing, our objective is to secure your visa in the fastest time feasible, usually within 3-5 business days, excluding shipping.

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