(Approved by the State Council on December 3, 1986, and Promulgated by the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on December 27, 1986) These Rules are formulated in accordance with the stipulations in Article 33 of The Law of the People's Republic of China on Control of the Entry and Exit of Aliens (hereinafter referred to as The Law on Control of the Entry and Exit of Aliens) 　　Article 1 For entry into China, aliens shall apply for visas from Chinese diplomatic missions, consular posts or other resident agencies abroad authorized　by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Aliens who hold ordinary　passports issued by countries which have diplomatic relations or official trade links with China as well as letter(s) or telegram(s) from authorized units in China, may, under any of the following circumstances where they must necessarily rush to China　but have no time for visa application to the aforesaid agencies, apply to the visa-granting departments at entry ports as authorized by the Ministry of Public Security:(1) they are invited at the last moment by a Chinese host to come to China for a trade fair;(2)they are invited to come to China to submit a tender or to sign a formal economic or trade contract;(3) they come to China by appointment to supervise the inspection of import and export commodities or to participate in a check-and-accept operation in accordance with contracts;(4) they are invited to participate in the installation of equipment or in the emergency repair of engineering projects;(5) they come to China at the request of the Chinese side to solve a problem of claims;(6) they are invited to come to provide technical advisory services;(7) they come to China due to a last-minute change in the composition of a visiting group and with consent of the Chinese side after the visas are granted;(8) they come to China to see　patients in critical conditions, or to undertake funeral matters;(9) owing to force majeure, transit visa holders cannot leave the country within twenty-four hours by taking the original place or by taking　other means of transport;(10) other invited guests who really have no time for visa application to the aforesaid China's resident agencies abroad, and who hold letter(s) or telegram(s) from competent authorities who give the consent for the invited guests to apply for the visa at the designated entry ports. The visa-granting agencies at entry ports shall not accept and handle visa applications filled out by people who do not come under the aforesaid circumstances. Article 2 Visa-issuing departments at port of entry, as authorized by the Ministry of Public Security, are stationed at the following ports: Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Dalian, Fuzhou, Xiamen, Xi'an, Guilin, Hangzhou,Kunming, Guangzhou(Baiyun Airport), Shenzhen (Luohu, Shekou), Zhuhai(Gongbei) Article 3 Different categories of visa, such as diplomatic visa, courtesy visa, service visa, and ordinary visa, shall be issued to different aliens in accordance with the different capacities in which they visit China and also with the different categories of passport they hold. Article 4 In accordance with aliens'reasons for coming to China, the ordinary visas to be issued to them shall be marked with the following Chinese pinyin letters:(1) the letter "D" is marked on a visa issued to a person who comes for permanent residence in China;(2) the letter "Z" is marked on a visa issued to a person who comes to China for a post or employment, and also to this person's accompanying family members;(3) the Letter "X" is marked on a visa issued to a person who comes to China to study, to engage in advanced studies, or to do fieldwork, for a period of more than 6 months;(4) the letter "F" is marked on a visa issued to a person who is invited to come to China for a visit, for investigations, for giving lectures, for doing business, for carrying out scientific, technical and cultural exchanges, for pursuing short-term advanced studies or for doing short-term field work: these activities shall not exceed 6 months;(5) the letter "L" is marked on a visa issued to a person who comes to China for sightseeing, for visiting relatives, or for private matters; a group visa shall be issued to a China-bound tourist group of nine members or more;(6) the letter "G" is marked on a visa issued to a transit traveler; (7) the letter "C" is marked on a visa issued to a crew member performing his/her duties on board an international train, or on an international airliner, to a sailor on board an international ocean-liner or freighter, and also to their accompanying family members. Article 5 An alien, who is