# Tourist and family invitations: L, Q and S are different

[Service guides](https://app.chinaentryvisa.com/guides) › [China visa invitation letters: who writes what?](https://app.chinaentryvisa.com/guides/china-visa-invitation-letter) › Tourist and family invitations: L, Q and S are different

The US tourist-visa simplification does not remove family-visa invitation requirements. Start with your real purpose, the inviter’s status and the intended length of the visit.

## L visas: read the simplification in its proper scope

San Francisco’s current requirements repeat the January 1, 2024 simplification for tourist visa applications within the United States: routine round-trip bookings, hotel reservations, itinerary and invitation letter are no longer required. Individual additional requests remain possible. This does not waive the other application materials or apply automatically outside the US.

Do not choose L only to avoid requesting family documents. Match the category to the actual purpose and follow the responsible office’s instructions. An old invitation sample bearing an L heading does not override the current tourist checklist.

- [San Francisco L requirements · checked 2026-10-01](https://sanfrancisco.china-consulate.gov.cn/eng/lsfw/lszj/zgqz/202509/t20250926_11717536.htm)

- [Tourist visa document guide](https://app.chinaentryvisa.com/guides/china-tourist-visa/requirements)

## Q or S: identify the person you are visiting

| Family visit | Inviter and supporting route | Stay distinction |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Q1 / Q2 | Chinese relative living in China, or foreign relative with Chinese permanent residence. Invitation plus Chinese ID, or passport and permanent-residence evidence. | Q1 family reunion: intended stay over 180 days. Q2 visit: no more than 180 days. |
| S1 / S2 family visits | Foreign relative working or studying in China. Invitation plus the applicable passport, residence/visa and relationship evidence. | S1: over 180 days and a narrower family scope. S2: no more than 180 days. Other private affairs use the documents requested for that purpose. |

New York’s S1 family scope covers spouses, parents, children under 18 and parents-in-law. Q1 and S2 have broader published family definitions; check the full list for your relationship. The 180-day distinction is a category criterion for the intended visit, not a promise of the stay granted or the visa’s validity period.

- [New York category and document definitions · checked 2026-10-01](https://newyork.china-consulate.gov.cn/eng/lsfw/Visa/rhsq/202509/t20250924_11714483.htm)

## Keep the invitation and relationship evidence separate

Chicago’s list calls for relationship evidence for Q1, S1 and S2, with original verification for Q1/S1. Its Q2 list specifies the invitation and inviter identity/status copies; this does not prevent an individual request for further proof. A sentence saying “we are relatives” does not replace required relationship evidence.

| What you are checking | Practical comparison |
| --- | --- |
| Inviter | Compare the letter’s identity and current China address with the relevant supporting documents; clarify any discrepancy with the inviter. |
| Relationship | Compare the named people and relationship across the invitation and any certificate required for the category. Ask the office how to document a relationship that is not straightforward. |
| Visit | Compare the arrival plan and intended stay in the invitation with the application; do not confuse proposed dates with the eventual visa decision. |

- [Chicago family documents and Annex 1 · checked 2026-10-01](https://chicago.china-consulate.gov.cn/eng/lmbf/zytz/202509/t20250925_11716329.htm)

## Fictional family-letter reading exercise

Fictional instructional fragment, not a customer case or a usable invitation: “Person A invites Relative B for an illustrative 20-day family visit.” No real identity, passport, address or signature is supplied. This fragment must not be submitted.

| Margin note | Who fills the real invitation field |
| --- | --- |
| 01 · Who is Person A? | Inviter fills its own identity and residence details; applicant checks whether Q or S fits the actual status. |
| 02 · Who is Relative B? | Inviter enters the invitee’s verified personal details and the real relationship, not these fictional labels. |
| 03 · What does 20 days mean? | Inviter confirms the actual intended visit with the applicant; the consular office decides the visa and permitted stay. |

CEV is an independent service provider, not a consular office. CEV does not issue, ghostwrite or buy invitation letters, and does not supply an inviter. The genuine inviting party is responsible for the letter; the applicant verifies their own information; the consular office decides what to accept and whether to issue a visa. Existing form and material review can help check preparation within the selected service, without guaranteeing approval or timing.

## Related guides

- [Overview: China visa invitation letters: who writes what?](https://app.chinaentryvisa.com/guides/china-visa-invitation-letter.md)
- [Invitation letter: original, scan, printout or handwritten?](https://app.chinaentryvisa.com/guides/china-visa-invitation-letter/original-copy-handwritten.md)
- [China family visit visa: plan a reunion, one document at a time](https://app.chinaentryvisa.com/guides/china-family-visit-visa.md)
- [China tourist visa requirements: a checklist for applicants in the US](https://app.chinaentryvisa.com/guides/china-tourist-visa/requirements.md)

## Official references

Follow the current instructions of the Embassy or Consulate handling your application. These references do not confirm CEV service availability or an order-specific receiving address.

- [San Francisco: visa requirements (September 2025)](https://sanfrancisco.china-consulate.gov.cn/eng/lsfw/lszj/zgqz/202509/t20250926_11717536.htm) — verified on 2026-10-01
- [New York: visa requirements and invitation annexes](https://newyork.china-consulate.gov.cn/eng/lsfw/Visa/rhsq/202509/t20250924_11714483.htm) — verified on 2026-10-01
- [Chicago: visa requirements (September 2025)](https://chicago.china-consulate.gov.cn/eng/lmbf/zytz/202509/t20250925_11716329.htm) — verified on 2026-10-01

Content updated: 2026-10-01

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