If someone has a valid and unused Chinese visitor (L) visa, can they apply for another Chinese visa (of a different type)? A Russian friend of mine recently attempted to apply for a work visa at the Chinese consulate in Irkutsk, Russia, and was told by someone working there that she could not apply for a new visa until either she used her existing visitor visa, or the existing visitor visa expired (in 3 months).
So, what is the rule? Does she have to use the existing visitor visa or wait for it to expire, or can she have two visas at the same time? Any documentation on this would be greatly appreciated.
Update:
The only information I have found so far that relates to this subject is from VisaRite, which seems to suggest you can indeed apply for a new visa with a valid, unused other visa:
I applied for single entry visa. Now I changed travel plan and I need to enter China twice, Is it possible to change the visa to double entry and just pay the extra amount. Unfortunately, visa once issued can not be changed. You will have to apply for a new visa. You need to go through the whole visa application process and pay the fee for the new visa again.