All About China > Visas, Immigration and Emigration

Visa help from her friend

(1/8) > >>

kiwisteve:
Anna has agreed to come here to NZ for a holiday and to meet my family. Firstly she is getting a passport, and has gone to start that today, but I haven't heard back so far.

The other day she was talking about a friend who is a visa "agent" who is helping her to get a visitor visa. I was sceptical and said the forms are all online, and it is straight forward so we can do it ourselves. Her friend's fee was 3000 RMB and I am not sure if that includes all the incidental fees. I said it would only cost us 1060 RMB if we did it ourselves. She came back with her friend doing it for 2000 and pointed out that it would save her a trip to Beijing (from Chengdu). I am really sceptical, but it is her decision and she does seem to have all sorts of contacts for everything. She is very smart.

Her friend says I need to supply a letter of invitation saying where she is staying who is paying for her travel and accommodation etc. I have no problem doing this, but in the visa application forms I read this was not necessary. So I am wondering if this person really knows what they are doing. Maybe they are going by standard forms necessary for other countries. There was a specific form online for a sponsor, but this has different information requirements than what the agent was asking for.

Any ideas?

Steve

Arnold:
A letter of Invitation is definitely needed for the US, along with Tax Records .. Employment Proof .. Proof of Citizenship .. ect. Cost for us was $150 with a Lawyer and that didn't sound too bad.

john1964:
Steve if your partner is a applying for a visitors visa then it may be the same as the Australian requirements,She must know you inside-out and will be asked many questions about you and must also show that she has commitments in China to show strong reason to return and not take flight and not return to China, Remember, Everything about you including things like your email address and family names and ages, And yes i had to provide a letter of invitation and tax return records too, John.

Jason B:
Steve, as John mentioned everything is in the Australian requirements section on here.  As NZ is our little brother I can not see there being much different paperwork wise.  A letter of invitation, group certificates as apposed to tax returns and Do NOT forget or underestimate the questions about your family life etc.  these are important and I know of people who have all the boxes ticked and have failed this last hurdle and been denied a tourist visa.  Email the question and answers to her so she can have them ready when they ring, I am not saying that she may not know them but in the heat of battle she may get confused and to have them ready is to be forewarned.  As for the friend doing the paperwork I do not know, I completely understand what you are saying about them being straight forward.  My wife and I did all our own paperwork and everything was fine.  Good luck and I am enjoying reading your story too.

kiwisteve:
Thanks guys.

I have sent a draft letter of invitation (even though it is not required for a tourist visa to NZ as far as I can tell), along with a copy of my passport etc. I'm waiting to hear back from her friend as to whether they need financial statements.

I have been trying to get her details and her family's names for a long time. It doesn't seem a priority for her - everyone is just called older brother or girlfriend, or nephew - names don't seem to be so important. Even after spending several days with one of her brothers in China, it wasn't until after I returned home that I actually learned his name. I still don't know the other brother's name - haha. I hope she is doing better with my family. I will send her all the info I can think of just in case.

cheers,
Steve

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page