Here are the documents you shall prepare before submission of visa application:

　　1. Basic Documents

　　(1) Passport

　　Original passport with at least six months of remaining validity and blank visa pages, and a photocopy of the passport's data page and the photo page if it is separate.

　　(2) Visa Application Form and Photo

　　One completed Visa Application Form with a recently-taken color passport photo (bare-head, full face) against a light background attached

　　(3) Proof of legal stay or residence status (applicable to those not applying for the visa in their country of citizenship)

　　If you are not applying for the visa in the country of your citizenship, you must provide the original and photocopy of your valid certificates or visa of stay, residence, employment or student status, or other valid certificates of legal staying provided by the relevant authorities of the country where you are currently staying.

　　(4) Photocopy of previous Chinese passports or previous Chinese visas (applicable to foreign citizensthose who were Chinese citizens and have obtained foreign citizenship)

　　If you are applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, you should provide your previous Chinese passport held and a photocopy of its data page.

　　If you have obtained Chinese visas before and want to apply for a Chinese visa with a renewed foreign passport that does not contain any Chinese visa, you should present the photocopy of the previous passport's data page and the photo page if it is separate, as well as the previous Chinese visa page. (If your name on the current passport differs from that on the previous one, you must provide an official document of name change.)

For most attendees, it is easier to apply for a Tourist ("L") visa; an invitation letter is NOT required for obtaining a Tourist visa.

Invitation Letters

1. The invitation letter will be issued after the successful registration.
2. Your name must be listed exactly as it appears on your passport. Any differences between the name on your passport and the name on your invitation letter or other documentation could lead to a delay and/or denial of your visa.
3. Please note MAES Conference and the organizing committees of the conference are not authorized to assist with the VISA process beyond providing the Notification of Invitation Letter issued by MAES Conference and conference Committee Board. Should your application be denied, MAES Conference and the organizing committee of the conference cannot change the decision of the South African Embassy, nor will MAES Conference and the organizing committee of the conference engage in discussion or correspondence with the Embassy on behalf of the applicant. The registration fee cannot be refunded when the VISA application of individual being denied.
4. It takes around one month for the Embassy to process the VISA application, please register as early as you can to make sure you have enough time.

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