China Q2 Family Visit Visa Guide
Q2 is for a short visit of no more than 180 days to relatives who are Chinese citizens living in China or foreign citizens with Chinese permanent residence. The requested stay and entries are not guaranteed.
Who fits the Q2 category?
The visit must be to a relative who lives in China and is either a Chinese citizen or a foreigner with Chinese permanent residence. If the person in China is a foreign national staying there for work or study, review the S2 category instead. For intended family-reunion residence exceeding 180 days, review Q1.
Q2 document checklist
- The applicable basic COVA documents: passport pages, proof of U.S. residence, prior Chinese visa and U.S. status evidence for non-U.S. citizens.
- A signed invitation letter stating both parties’ identity details, the family relationship, planned arrival, length and purpose of visit.
- Inviter’s Chinese ID, front and back; or foreign passport bio page and Chinese permanent residence card, front and back.
- Evidence connecting the family relationship when requested or when names do not make the connection clear.
- Name-change or explanatory documents for inconsistencies.
What belongs in the invitation?
The Embassy’s annex lists the inviter’s name, gender, date of birth, identity number, China address, phone and email; the applicant’s name, gender, date of birth, nationality and passport number; relationship, planned travel date and stay; plus the inviter’s signature and date.
Common Q2 problems
- Using Q2 when the inviter is a foreign worker or student rather than a Chinese citizen or permanent resident.
- Omitting the inviter’s signature, China address or relationship.
- Submitting an expired or unreadable inviter ID.
- Requesting dates or duration that conflict with COVA.
Reddit reports about ten-year visas, entry counts and permitted stays are individual outcomes, not an official rule. The consular officer determines the visa actually issued.
Related guides
Make the invitation and COVA agree
eChinaVisa can review the invitation, inviter ID and supplied family records, organize COVA answers, coordinate follow-up and manage passport handling in one workflow.
Start an applicationSources
- Chinese Embassy in the U.S.: Q2 requirements and invitation contents
- r/Chinavisa Q2 discussions—individual experiences, not an official rule.
eChinaVisa is an independent visa application assistance service owned and operated by Dragon Byte Design Inc. It is not a government website and is not affiliated with any Chinese embassy or consulate. Requirements and case-specific requests can change. This guide is general information and does not guarantee approval or timing.