Language course and tourism visa issues.

Question

I plan to stay in China for around 80 days and at the start of my trip take a language course for 2 weeks. My problem is that the X-2 visa for a 2-week course only lasts a month. I am also unsure if there will be issues with visa applications as my flight will be much after the expiry of my X2 visa. Would I be allowed to apply for an X-2 visa then when I finish the course (I will be in China) apply for an L visa?

Thank you for any advice you can give.

Answer

When planning to stay in China for around 80 days and starting with a short-term language course, you need to be careful about visa types and durations.

Here’s a breakdown of the situation:

X-2 Visa: This visa is intended for short-term study, typically less than 180 days. For a 2-week language course, the consulate often issues an X-2 visa with a validity of 1–3 months and a stay duration that matches or slightly exceeds the course length.
Flight date after X-2 expiration: The key point is that your departure flight can be after the X-2 visa expires, as long as your stay within China does not exceed the duration of the visa. You cannot legally remain in China beyond the visa's permitted stay without an extension.
Switching to an L Visa (tourist visa) while in China: Chinese visa regulations generally do not allow you to change visa type from X-2 to L within China. You would need to exit China and apply for a new visa (L visa) from a Chinese consulate or embassy abroad. Attempting to switch types while inside China can lead to refusal or penalties.

Recommended approach:

Apply for the X-2 visa for your 2-week course with enough validity to comfortably cover your course duration and allow for any minor delays.
Plan to leave China after your X-2 visa expires, then apply for an L visa from a neighboring country (for example, Hong Kong, Macau, or a nearby Southeast Asian country) if you wish to continue traveling in China for the remaining period.
Alternatively, consider applying for an L visa for the whole duration (up to 60 or 90 days depending on consulate policy) and take the short-term language course under this tourist visa, although some schools might require a student visa to enroll officially.
Check with the language school and Chinese consulate in your home country for exact guidance on X-2 visa issuance and requirements, as policies can vary slightly between consulates.

In summary, you cannot legally switch from X-2 to L visa within China. The safest plan is to use the X-2 for the course and leave China to apply for the L visa for extended travel, or adjust your visa application to cover your entire stay from the beginning.