Non-Immigrant Visas

NOTICE: No Eyeglasses Policy for Visa and Passport Photographs

As of November 1, 2016, all foreign passport holders who apply for U.S. visas and all American citizens who apply for new U.S. passports or to renew existing U.S. passports, must remove their eyeglasses in their application photos.  We can no longer accept photographs of visa and U.S. passport applicants wearing eyeglasses, except in rare, medically-documented circumstances such as recent surgery that is documented with a signed statement from a medical professional. Applications that fail to meet these requirements will not be accepted and the applicants will be required to submit new conforming photos before their applications can be processed. To avoid delays in your travel, please ensure you are not wearing glasses in your visa or U.S. passport application photographs. Thank you for your cooperation.

NOTICE: Chinese Applicants Receive the First Extended Validity Visas from Secretary of State John Kerry

On November 12, United States Secretary of State John Kerry personally delivered the first 10-year validity tourism/business visas and the first 5-year validity student visas to 11 visa applicants at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing.  This event marked the start of a new era in cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between America and China, because people who wish to travel often between the two countries can now do so without having to apply for a new visa every year. 

Businesses in both countries, including the tourism industry, will benefit from increased travel, investment, and business development opportunities between the two countries.  Longer visa validity will allow students and exchange visitors to more easily return to their home countries during school and work holidays. 

If you have any questions about this extension of visa validity, please see our Frequently Asked Questions list.

NOTICE: 

To:   Applicants who have made an appointment at Ritan Branch

Thank you for scheduling your visa appointment at Ritan Branch. Your appointment has been changed to our main Embassy. The address is: No. 55 An Jia Lou Lu 100600. Please keep the same appointment date and time you had, but come instead to our main Embassy. We look forward to seeing you there.

NOTICE: Upcoming visa appointment?  Please note our policy: 

If you arrive up to 30 minutes before or after your appointment time, we will admit you for your interview.  If you are more than 30 minutes late (or more than 15 minutes late for any appointments after 5:00 p.m. or after 12:00 p.m. on Wednesdays),  you may be asked to reschedule your interview for another day.  Please be on time!


Current Visa wait times

Visa processing generally takes one week, but can take up to several months.  In order to avoid unnecessary delays, we urge applicants to apply early and make sure they bring all required documents to the interview.

NOTICE: Students and Exchange Visitors Can Now Make Appointments at Ritan branch - No.2 Xiu Shui East Road

Students and Exchange Visitors: When scheduling your appointment, please be sure to check the Ritan branch calendar for additional appointment availability. We currently offer student and exchange visitor visa interviews at both the Embassy and Ritan branch locations.

Beware of Imposter or Fraudulent Websites

The only website authorized to make visa appointments in China is http://www.ustraveldocs.com. This site contains all of the information about the U.S. visa process.

NOTICE: Two Locations for Visa Interviews

If no appointments are available for your particular visa category at the Embassy, remember to check the Ritan branch for appointment availability (and vice versa).  The location you select is the location you must go to on the day of your interview. 


The Embassy: 55 Anjia Lou Rd., Chaoyang District, Beijing
Ritan branch: No. 2 Xiu Shui East Rd., Chaoyang District, Beijing

NOTICE: Petition-based visa interview locations and fee payment

Please check both the Embassy and the Ritan branch for appointment availability.  Also, please note that certain petition-based applicants may be required to pay visa reciprocity fees. The reciprocity fees can be found here. If your appointment is at the Embassy, you may pay your reciprocity fee with cash or credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club, or Discover; U.S. dollars only).  If your appointment is at Ritan, please be prepared to pay the reciprocity fee by credit card only. Cash and debits cards are not accepted at Ritan.

Attention: Between April 14 and April 30, we are unable to process credit card transactions due to the technical issues. During this period of time, we accept cash payment only at the Embassy.

The Embassy: 55 Anjia Lou Rd., Chaoyang District, Beijing
Ritan branch: No. 2 Xiu Shui East Rd., Chaoyang District, Beijing