Non-Immigrant Visas

NOTICE: 

New Visa Appointment System Begins March 16, 2013

We are pleased to launch our new visa appointment system at www.ustraveldocs.com on Saturday, March 16. You will be able to create a personal profile, make visa interview appointments and pay visa processing fee directly on the website. Please remember that the new Call Center will not open until Monday, March 18 at 8:00 a.m. Until then, information, fee payment, and appointment services are available on www.ustraveldocs.com. 

NOTICE:

On March 16, 2013, U.S. Mission China implemented a new visa appointment, fee payment, and document delivery system. This system makes it easier for applicants to schedule their visa interview appointments, pay visa processing fees, and check on the status of their issued visas.

Please click www.ustraveldocs.com for addititional information or to apply for a U.S. visa.

NOTICE: 

Transitioning to the New Visa Appointment and Payment System

U.S. Mission China is changing its visa process to make it more convenient and less expensive. Please schedule your appointment time according to your original plans, taking note of the following dates when specific procedural changes go into effect.

For those planning to interview on Monday, March 25, 2013 or later, you may log-in to our new web-based appointment system as early as Saturday, March 16, 2013, the system’s launch date.  In addition, beginning March 18, applicants will also be able to use our new Call Center to obtain information and to schedule visa interviews. 

In all cases, you must start the process by registering either at www.ustraveldocs.com or with the Call Center.  Until you register, you cannot pay your application fee or book an appointment.  Payment of the new, all-inclusive application fee can be made online using any debit card issued in China.  Once you have registered in the system at www.ustraveldocs.com (or through the Call Center) and obtained a reference number, you can also choose to pay the fee at any CITIC Bank ATM with a Union Pay debit card, or in cash at any CITIC Bank branch. 

For applicants who wish to interview prior to Monday, March 25, 2013, you will have to book your appointment through the existing U.S. Visa Information Call Center before 1:00pm, March 15.  Please note that you can buy PIN codes for this service until close of business, Wednesday, March 13, at CITIC Bank branches, or online at www.usavisainformation.com.cn until close of business at 7:30pm on Thursday, March 14.  You can purchase a current visa fee receipt for your application at any branch of CITIC Bank until close of business on March 14 at 5:30pm. 

There will also be a brief suspension of visa renewal services as we launch the new system.  CITIC branches will stop accepting visa drop-off applications on March 14 at 5:30pm and will not begin again until Saturday, March 16.  Please note that starting Saturday, March 16, you must register through www.ustraveldocs.com or the Call Center before you drop off a renewal application.  Unlike in the past, applicants qualifying for the drop-off service will not be able to go directly to a CITIC Bank branch to pay and drop off application materials.

Further details about the new appointment system including the new Call Center number will be announced here before March 16.  This change in process should not significantly affect your decision as to when to apply for your visa.  We are confident you will benefit from the new cheaper and more convenient visa application process.

NOTICE:

New Process for U.S. Visa Applications

As part of the U.S. Mission in China’s efforts to streamline the visa application process, the Embassy and all Consulates that issue visas are implementing a new visa appointment, fee payment and document delivery system starting on March 16, 2013.  This system, already in use in several countries, will make it easier for applicants to schedule their visa interview appointments, pay visa processing fees, and check on the status of their issued visas.

Beginning March 16, applicants will only pay the existing, unchanged, visa processing fee of $160 for most nonimmigrant visa types.  Previously, in addition to the processing fee, applicants faced additional costs for scheduling appointments and arranging for the return of their passports.    Applicants will have the option to pay online using any debit card issued in China.  Applicants will also be able to pay with a Union Pay ATM card at any CITIC automatic teller machine, or in cash at any CITIC Bank branch.   

Applicants will also be able to use a new online system to make visa interview appointments and to check on the status of their applications.  They will be able to call the new Call Center to make an appointment or have their questions answered at no extra charge.  The new system allows applicants to pick up their passports at any one of more than 800 CITIC Bank branches across China.  Under the new appointment process, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates will continue to offer a drop-off nonimmigrant visa renewal service for most applicants who are eligible to renew their visas without a personal interview. 

The United States is committed to meeting the growing demand for visas to the United States.  In 2012, the U.S. Mission in China processed more than 1.34 million nonimmigrant visa applications, representing a growth rate of 34% over 2011.  Nonetheless, wait times for interview appointments have averaged just five days for the past year.  Our new appointment, fee payment and passport return system is just part of our effort to continually improve service to the Chinese traveling public.

Please click here for additional information about new process for U.S. visa applications.

NOTICE:

Please click here to find out how to check the status of your visa application. 

NOTICE:

New Deadline for Use of CITIC Fee Receipts

The U.S. Embassy and Consulates General in China will be transitioning to a new and improved visa fee collection system for Chinese applicants in mid-March 2013.  As a result of this new system, the U.S. visa fee receipts that applicants currently purchase from select CITIC Bank branches will be phased out and will not be valid after March 14, 2013.  There will be no fee increase associated with these changes.  The U.S. Embassy strongly advises all visa applicants to use all current CITIC fee receipts before they expire on March 14, 2013.  After the expiration date, we will be unable to accept receipts issued before March 14 and refunds for expired receipts will not be available.  Visa applicants who plan to apply close to or after March 14 should wait to pay their visa fees until after this date.  Specific details on this new and more convenient way for applicants to pay their visa fees will be announced closer to the transition date.  The implementation of a new system is part of our efforts to continually improve our services for Chinese visa applicants.