Apply for S Visa Inside/Outside China, & Common Law OK?

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Question: Asked by D from china | Jul. 19, 2014 22:00

About:China Private Visit Visa

Apply for S Visa Inside/Outside China, & Common Law OK?

Hi, Thank you for your excellent, informative, and responsive website!

I had asked about getting an S1 while inside China (my fiancee and I both live here, both currently on Z types) and you were kind enough to answer my question. I can't find your response on this page now, but if I understood your answer, you said:

S cannot be applied for from inside China, we must apply at an embassy overseas. Is this correct?

If so, we are planning a holiday to Thailand over the national holiday (October), could we apply for my S1 at an embassy in Thailand?

Also, we will be married in June 2015. Is it possible to apply for the S1 BEFORE the actual wedding? We have been living together for 1.5 years in Shanghai, so we can prove that we are common law. Can we use this in place of a marriage certificate? Of course, we could "get married" in China and get the Chinese marriage certificate and then get remarried for real at home next year, but it's kind of unromantic!

Thank you!
D

Reply

Answers (3): Answered by Emma | Jul. 20, 2014 01:32

0 0 Reply

Yes, you are right. The S needs to be applied at an embassy overseas.

If you want to get a S1 at embassy in Thailand, it is impossible, because the S1 is only applicable for spouses, parents, children below 18 years old and spouses' parents. So you are able to apply for S1 after you get your marriage certificate in your own country.

The provement on the common law cannot be used for applying the S1.

I think you can try apply for a L type when you are in Thailand and then extend the L when you stay in China. Then apply for a S1 till you get married.

0 0 Reply; Answered by D | Jul. 20, 2014 23:03

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Thanks for your reply! Can we just do a quick marriage in Shanghai, get a Chinese marriage certificate, have the marriage registered locally, AND THEN go to Thailand to apply for the Saturday visa? We could still have a big ceremony with our family next year, even if we were technically already married.....

0 0 Reply; Answered by Emma | Jul. 22, 2014 01:39

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Yes, it is possible.

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