No matter you are a new who just got arrive China or an old friend who has lived in this lovely country for a long period, maybe you should learn rules and principles that can help you stay longer, especially about the visa.
First of all, you ought to confirm that what kind of visa you are holding now.

Tourist visa (L visa): If you are a 1 time entry tourist visa holder, you can extend your visa for 2 times and each time you would get another 30 days to stay in China. Now, we can also extend L visa for 3 months.If you are a multiple entries tourist visa holder, you will have lots of chances to renew the entry date and to get another valid stay in China. However,
you have to go out of China, to HK or other countries and re-enter into China. At the same time, you are also have the chances to extend your visa for 2 times and to get another 30 days for each extension.
Of course, you can also convert your visa from L to F or to Z, which would be better for you if you really have a future plan in China.

Business visa (F visa): If you are a business visa holder, please pay more attention on your entry date. The F visa holders can not stay in China for a whole year.
Extension of Business (F) visa (F to F)
F---F3 (0) ===F visa extension with 3-month 0-entry
F---F3 (1) ===F visa extension with 3-month 1-entry
F---F6 (0) ===F visa extension with 6-month 0-entry
F---F6 (1) ===F visa extension with 6-month 1-entry
F---F6 (2) ===F visa extension with 6-month 2-entry
F---F6 (m) ===F visa extension with 6-month multi-entry
F---F12 (m) ===F visa extension with 12-month multi-entry
Then, if you find a job here, that is to say, you have a sponsorship from your empolyer, you can apply a Z visa without leaving.

Working visa (Z visa): If you need a job here and want to get a valid visa to sponsor your employment, please choose Z visa application. It owns a complicated procedure but you can hold it once and for all.
There are 2 solutions for you to do the Z visa application:
Solution one: do the visa conversion without leaving China
1. apply a employment license;
2. apply a conversion from L/F to Z;
3. apply working permit;
4. apply a 1 year residence permit.

Solution two: apply a working invitation letter
1. apply a employment license;
2. apply a working invitation letter and fly to HK or other country to apply a Z visa by the letter;
3. extend your Z visa in China mainland;
4. apply a 1 year residence permit.

Student visa (X visa): If you are a student visa holder and want any other kind of visa which can be authorized to stay longer in China to find a job or something like that, you has to go to HK to apply a new visa.
Solution one: go to HK directly and apply a new L visa
Solution two: apply a business invitation letter in mainland and go to HK to apply a new F visa then come back to do the extension

For any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us by:

Grace jin
Tel: +86-10-58156222ext.122
Mobile: +86-13811299056
Email: Grace.jin@163.com
MSN：Jnaive@163.com
Add: Room 707-708, CYTS Plaza, Dongzhimen South Street No.5, Beijing, China