Chinese bureaucracy depends on middlemen, so it’s appropriate to use an outside agent in these matters. Plus, it’s a good way to avoid the hassles of waiting in line and filling out forms. Make sure that the visa consultancy is experienced and has good relations with the government. If you are working on your own or looking for a job, working with a visa agency to apply for a new visa or extend your current one is also a good solution. However, be wary of agencies that offer visas without proper documentation, such as automatic F visas without invitation letters. While many of them operate successfully, be aware that these services are borderline illegal and using them can be risky (these agencies simply sign you up as an employee of a random company). A raid on such firms in 2006 forced a number of foreigners in Shanghai to leave the country.­­­­