Originally Posted by
ClimbGuy
I am planning on going to china on tourism. However I have a friend who is working there. Is there any benifit to an F over an L visa or the other way around. I shouldn't have a problem getting a letter if that helps at all. I am in DC this week so applying there makes the most sense for me.
Just get the L visa for tourism--you didn't describe any reason that you'd need an F for. Keep it simple. You won't need a letter for an L visa. I can't figure out why your friend working in China has any bearing on your visa application. If you will be travelling inside China for longer than 30 day standard visa duration, then ask for 60 day duration on the application form and put down a longer list of cities (need not match your real travel plans). Because they are now all same price for US citizens, you should check the box for multiple entry, 12 months validity.
If you ever find yourself in need of an extension while in China, L's are straightforward to deal with yourself--F extensions can be more problematic.