Q1 and Q2 serve different family-visit situations
Both categories relate to qualifying family connections, but they are not interchangeable. The appropriate category depends on the intended stay and the inviter's status, among other facts.
| Category | General purpose | Preparation focus |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | Longer-term family reunion or qualifying foster-care situations. | Relationship evidence, inviter status, and plans connected with a longer stay. |
| Q2 | Short-term visits to qualifying relatives who are Chinese citizens or permanent residents in China. | Invitation details, relationship evidence, and a consistent short visit plan. |
This comparison is an orientation, not an eligibility determination. Use the current official visa-category guidance for your specific relationship and stay.
Family invitation letter: information to align
Current official guidance provides an invitation-letter outline for Q1/Q2 cases. A well-organized letter commonly identifies:
- The inviter's name, gender, date of birth, identification or qualifying status, current China address, phone, and email.
- The invited person's name, gender, date of birth, nationality, passport information, and relationship to the inviter.
- The intended visit purpose, approximate arrival, and length of stay.
- The inviter's signature and date.
Every name, date, address, relationship, and trip detail should match the application and supporting documents.
Official reference: San Francisco Consulate visa requirements and Q1/Q2 invitation guidance.
Relationship documents need a clear chain
The goal is to make the claimed relationship understandable from the records supplied. Depending on the case, that may involve birth, marriage, adoption, household, nationality, or status documents.
Name changes
Connect maiden names, transliterations, aliases, or legal name changes instead of leaving unexplained differences.
Multi-generation relationships
A grandparent or in-law relationship may require more than one document to show the full connection.
Inviter status
Provide the current identity or residence evidence required for the inviter's situation.
Family groups
Keep each applicant's relationship, passport, and application material organized separately.
Our family-visit review workflow
- Clarify the actual relationship, inviter status, and intended length of stay.
- Compare Q1/Q2 and identify which official checklist appears relevant.
- Build the relationship-document chain and invitation checklist.
- Review form entries, dates, spellings, and prior visa information for consistency.
- Organize requested uploads and follow the online-review status.
We do not invent missing relationships, rewrite facts, or promise that a particular visa validity or duration will be issued.
When a tourist visa may be the better question
If your main purpose is sightseeing rather than visiting or reuniting with qualifying relatives, start with the China tourist visa guide. If the trip mixes tourism and family time, describe the real primary purpose and supporting facts instead of selecting a category only because it seems easier.
Have a complicated family-document chain?
Tell us the relationship, intended stay, inviter status, residence, and timing. Do not include passport numbers or document images in the inquiry form.
Request an initial assessment