使 Angel Visa Services天使中国签证 · WASHINGTON, DC

China Family Visit Visa Q2
Visiting Family in China — Q1 or Q2?

Visiting family in China? Start with how long you'll stay: Q2 for up to 180 days, Q1 for longer. Invitation letter, documents, fees, and process — explained in one place.

Get Started Check Status

Q2 family visit · Stays up to 180 days · All five US districts

✓Ten years of visa service experience
✓Pay only after approval
✓Every document hand-checked
✓Status updates at every step

Q1 or Q2? It Depends on How Long You Stay

Visiting family in China? Start with how long you plan to stay — that's the line between Q1 and Q2:

  • Q2 (short-term family visit): you plan to stay 180 days or less. Visiting parents, seeing family, a short reunion — most people apply for Q2, and you don't need to convert it to a residence permit after entry.
  • Q1 (long-term reunion): you plan to reside in China for more than 180 days; within 30 days of entry you must apply for a residence permit at the local exit-entry bureau.

Both are for relatives of Chinese citizens living in China, or of foreigners with Chinese permanent residence. Relatives include spouses, parents (including parents-in-law), children (including children-in-law), siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren.

What You Need to Apply

Under the Washington, DC Visa Section's current rules, a Q2 visa needs basic documents + invitation and proof of relationship (always check the consulate website for the latest requirements):

Basic documents

  • Passport: valid for 6+ months with at least one blank visa page; plus a copy of the data page.
  • Online application: fill in the COVA form (consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA) and pass the preliminary review.
  • Photo: 33mm×48mm color photo on a white background, taken within 6 months, no glasses. A phone selfie sent to us is fine — we process it for free.
  • Proof of residence in the LA district: driver's license or utility bill.

Extra for Q2

  • Invitation letter: issued by the relative in China (a Chinese citizen or a foreigner with permanent residence), stating both parties' names, ID/passport numbers, relationship, purpose, and dates, with a signature.
  • Inviter's ID copy: Chinese citizen — copy of Chinese ID card; foreigner — copy of passport + permanent residence permit.
  • Proof of family relationship: marriage certificate, birth certificate, household-register record, or a notarized kinship certificate. Names on every document must match the passport and the invitation letter exactly.
  • Round-trip flight booking: showing the trip is within 180 days.

For how to write the invitation letter, see our invitation letter guide; for the full Q1 vs Q2 comparison, see our Q1/Q2 checklist article.

How It Works

1

Contact us & confirm the plan

Tell us who you're visiting and how long you'll stay. We'll confirm Q1 or Q2 and send your checklist and quote.

2

Send us your documents

Send passport, photo, invitation letter, and relationship proof electronically. For full service, we fill in the COVA form for you; once it passes preliminary review, mail us the original passport.

3

We handle it & mail it back

Hand-checked documents → submit at the consulate → pick up your passport → mail it back securely. Regular pickup per the Embassy Visa Section schedule, expedited on the 3rd.

Related Reading

Services & Prices

Transparent pricing — government fees and service fees listed separately

🛂

China Visa

Tourist (L) · Business (M) · Family Visit (Q1/Q2) · Private Visit (S1/S2) · Work (Z) · Student (X1/X2). Submission + pickup + return mailing.

Full service (filing + submission + return mailing): service fee $200 + government fee $140 + courier fee $20 (charged separately), submitted within 3 business days of receiving your passport
Submission & pickup only (you file the form): service fee $120 + government fee $140 + courier fee $20, submitted within 3 business days of receiving your passport
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family discount: discount applies to the service fee only, not to government or courier fees; first applicant full price, service fee 20% off from the 2nd onward; friends applying together get service fee 10% off
⏱ Expedited add-on: government expedite fee $25/person + our expedite fee: full service $100/person, submission & pickup $50/person; submitted within 1 business day of receiving your passport

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between Q2 and a tourist (L) visa?

A tourist (L) visa is for sightseeing and visiting friends — no invitation letter needed. A Q2 visa is for visiting relatives who live in China, and it requires an invitation letter and proof of relationship. Visiting family? Q2 is the right fit.

Can someone who isn't a Chinese citizen invite me?

Yes. The inviter can be a Chinese citizen living in China, or a foreigner with Chinese permanent residence. A foreign inviter provides a copy of their passport + permanent residence permit.

Can my child apply with me?

Yes. Each child files a separate Q2 application, with the child's details in the invitation letter and proof of relationship included. Families applying together get 20% off the service fee from the second applicant onward.

What if I'll stay more than 180 days?

Then you need a Q1 long-term reunion visa, not Q2. Within 30 days of entering China on a Q1 visa, you must apply for a residence permit at the local exit-entry bureau, or the stay becomes unlawful.

How long does a Q2 visa take?

Once your documents are complete, the online form review takes about 3 business days (if you've had a Chinese visa before) or 4–5 business days (first time). After submission, regular pickup is on the Embassy's pickup schedule, expedited on the 3rd.

Visiting Family Starts with a Q2 Visa

Message us on WeChat with your documents and we can start today

Book Now Phone / WhatsApp: (626) 341-8614 WeChat: usvisa2017