It might help to know the city or some idea about this detail. I can understand that if the OP has never been anywhere in China but a single city that doesn't have much for tourists, to keep going there and staying longer Each time could seem strange. Shanghai, Beijing, etc. would not be a problem here, but some other places can reasonably lead to questions. Could the couple travel around China a bit rather than staying in only her hometown?

In fact, the story makes me wonder how the OP came to visit this one city the first time and indeed how he met the girlfriend. An engagement after spending at most nineteen days together might not be wise. Has the girlfriend ever been to the USA if that is where they will be living after the marriage? In fact, was the girlfriend seeking a foreign boyfriend? Does she very much want to leave China? Does she think that the boyfriend here is rich? Have both people considered their own and the other's motivations?

While marrying someone that you've only known for a short period of time usually isn't a wise idea, I doubt that the OP is in any grave danger of being scammed. But, I will update the scam thread with my latest intel on this matter.

Why does it matter to you? This website is about travel. We are in no position to judge people given that we do not even have all the facts and it's none of (your) our business. The advice that he is asking for is about visa, not his personal life. Again, nothing wrong with visiting China multiple times to visit friends. This will in no way keep the OP from getting a visa.

@waverider80, when filling out the visa application I would check off "tourist" ask for a 12 month multiple entry visa and 60 days per stay (at least). Use the Letter of Invitation method from girlfriend but have her just describe you as "friend" (not fiance) and then have the LOI describe that you will be traveling together with her to (a bunch of Chinese famous tourist cities). Put about 12-15 places in the letter as that justifies 60 days--you need not get specific on time allotments per place, just keep it general. Have your visa application match those places under the itinerary description. Yes, it means she may have to do a new letter, sign, scan, and send to you. It makes much more sense to a visa official if you are moving just like a tourist while in China, if asking for a tourist visa. Frankly, your unmarried status doesn't really give you any other category option except tourist right now, unless you want to pay for a course of Chinese study in her home city and go for an X2 student visa. I think the official you ran across the last time you applied may be suspicious you are trying to work illegally.

I put down visiting "friends" for my Airbnb stay in PEK and ended up with a 1 yr S2 Visa. I used a visa agency to organize my visa.
Cheers
Howie

I am not sure if anyone has experience this or maybe someone already posted this before but heres the situation:

I currently have a multiple entry L visa to China for 24 months and each stay is good for 90 days. The question i have is that is the multiple entry is it during the 90 days or during the 24 months? If it is during the 24 months, can i stay in china for lets say 80 days and then exit china for 5 days and come back in after that do i get another 90 days or am i just going to have 5 days left? Because i heard from many people that they never heard of such thing as in you get a refresh 90 days when you leave and then come back. If anyone can help or has any related experience please share thanks!

Welcome to Flyertalk!!

you are entitled to enter China as many times as you wish during the 24 month period of your visa.

Each time you enter you can stay for a maximum of 90 days.

you could fly out and back to china every week if you wanted to, and each time your 90 days would start all over again.

Depending on the exact wording of your visa, you may also be able to enter on the last day of your visa (23 months and 30 days) and still stay for another 90 days after you arrive. (of course you can't leave and come back during that time as you can no longer enter on the visa you have, but you can certainly stay in china)

thank you so much!

I have often just left China for just an hour or so. I crossed to HK and came back after a short shopping stint.

Sounds like you have picked up onto the favourite Chinese pastime. ;)

When applying for a visa without flights planned - can I book something, print the itinerary, and cancel within the DOT 24 hour window? Or would I need to book a fully refundable ticket and cancel only after getting my visa?

If you're applying in the US, the former should suffice (I never even bother with that, actually, but I do have a ton of Chinese visas under my belt).

Friends at Flyertalk. Thanks for all the responses and strategies. As a followup to to situation, no further action was taken. The traveller while having a US passport is a T*bet*n B*dd*st m*nk. The situation in eastern T*bet, his home has deteriorated over the summer. His students have decided that now is not an auspicious time to push the issue. I help plan his travel and have studied all of your strategies for possible future use. If you have more I am paying attention!

Likewise. We go there, visit her relatives, sometimes go see other bits of China, then come home. They can clearly see we aren't a problem.

And are you getting a tourist visa? I thought that you worked and lived there?