perhaps this will muddy the waters some... http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/hzqz/zgqz/t84247.htm sez: Updated: 23/04/2009 Business Visa (F Visa) is issued to an alien who is invited to China for a visit, an investigation, a lecture, to do business, scientific-technological and culture exchanges, short-term advanced studies or internship for a period of no more than six months. I.Please submit the following documents for your application: 1.A valid passport as well as a copy of its information page: Your valid passport must have at least six (6) months of remaining validity and at least one blank visa page in it. 2.Application form: One completed Visa Application Form 3.Photo: one recent photo of 2x2 squre inch (black & white or color is acceptable) glued or stapled on the application form. 4.First time applicants whose former nationality was Chinese, shall write down his Chinese name in the application form and submit his original Chinese passport and the photocopy of the information page of the passport. Applicant who was formerly Chinese and has acquired a new US passport, if there is a Chinese visa in the old passport, shall submit his old US passport and the photocopy of the Chinese visa. 5.Visa Notifications Form from an authorized Chinese Unit, or invitation letters from the host company, meeting or exhibition organizers in China, or an introduction letter from applicant's US company, etc. [elided] ---- so it would appear that strictly speaking, a business visa would be in order. Number five seems to suggest an invitation letter from the local organizers would be prudent. as usual, YMMV. --bill On 24August2010Tuesday, at 15:34, Mary Barnes wrote: > U.S. customs is the least of my worries in this situation. In the 15 years that I've been attending these sorts of meetings, I've never needed a visa of any sort ahead of time. > > Can you please point me to an official website that suggests that there is a visa waiver program for us attending the IETF meeting in China? > > Mary. > > On Tue, Aug 24, 2010 at 3:44 PM, Behcet Sarikaya <behcetsarikaya@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > I agree with Fred. > > Many countries we go to attend IETF meetings would probably require "business" > visa but we go there as tourists on a visa waiver program. On the way back as > far as US customs are concerned the purpose is business but US customs never > asks why you did not get a business visa. > > Regards, > > Behcet > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > > From: todd glassey <tglassey@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > > To: ietf@xxxxxxxx > > Sent: Tue, August 24, 2010 12:38:00 PM > > Subject: Re: Tourist or business visa from US? > > > > On 8/24/2010 8:24 AM, Fred Baker wrote: > > > In the many times I have visited China, I have gotten a business visa once, > >and it was seriously not worth the effort. > > > > > > I plan to get a tourist visa. > > > > Except that now the PRC is looking at the purpose of your trip and that > > is to develop intellectual properties so this is not a personal but > > specifically a business trip. > > > > Does Cisco's legal department condone that Fred? > > > > Todd Glassey > > > > > > On Aug 24, 2010, at 7:43 AM, Andrew G. Malis wrote: > > > > > >> Is there a consensus that a tourist visa is sufficient to attend the > > >> IETF from the US? > > >> > > >> Thanks, > > >> Andy > > >> _______________________________________________ > > >> Ietf mailing list > > >> Ietf@xxxxxxxx > > >> https://www.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/ietf > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Ietf mailing list > > > Ietf@xxxxxxxx > > > https://www.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/ietf > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > > > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > > > Version: 9.0.851 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3091 - Release Date: 08/23/10 > >23:34:00 > > > > > > > > > -- > > //----------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > > > This message may contain confidential and/or privileged information. > > If you are not the addressee or authorized to receive this for the > > addressee, you must not use, copy, disclose or take any action based > > on this message or any information herein. If you have received this > > message in error, please advise the sender immediately by reply e-mail > > and delete this message. > > > > Thank you for your cooperation. > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Ietf mailing list > > Ietf@xxxxxxxx > > https://www.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/ietf > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Ietf mailing list > Ietf@xxxxxxxx > https://www.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/ietf > > _______________________________________________ > Ietf mailing list > Ietf@xxxxxxxx > https://www.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/ietf _______________________________________________ Ietf mailing list Ietf@xxxxxxxx https://www.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/ietf