访问 - only used for high level visits?

[Scoobyqueen]

My teacher in China indicated that 访问 was only used for high level visits (or at least this is what I understood she said). Browsing a few examples in the dictionary, it comes across that 访问 may also be used for normal visits.

Which is correct?

Thanks in advance.

[monto]

访问 means just visit, literally no restriction on the level or formality.

访贫问苦 is low level thing; and

家访 = 家庭访问，usually the vistit of a teacher to the student's family; and

访问学者，visiting scholar.

But there is tendency that it is used more and more for formal and official visit, and when used for ordinary visit, you sound too serious.

[Lu]

I agree with monto (I'd better, him being the native speaker). You can fangwen your teacher, Ma Yingjiu can fangwen Li Denghui, but you don't really fangwen your friend. It implies both parties are in function (ie if you just get along well with your teacher and you go to their house to drink beer and chat, it's not really fangwen) and the meeting is of some official nature.