Shanghai, China - Consulate General of the United States

Address
The U.S. Consulate in Shanghai’s consular section is located on the eighth floor of Westgate Mall, 1038 West Nanjing Road, Shanghai, China.

The address of the consular section in Chinese is 非移民签证处和美国公民服务处 位于南京西路1038号梅龙镇广场8楼.

Hours
The Non-immigrant Visa unit is open to the public by appointment only. Please go to www.ustraveldocs.com or call the numbers listed on this website to register and make an appointment. Please note that the consulate may be closed for public holidays.

Visa Questions
We regret we cannot answer questions regarding visas by telephone or fax. Many general non-immigrant visa inquires can be answered by going to www.ustraveldocs.com or calling the numbers listed on this website. The U.S. Department of State’s travel.state.gov website provides the most official and current information about visas to the United States.

American Citizens
American citizens who wish to inquire about visas for Chinese citizens are encouraged to attend our weekly American citizen visa hour. Alternatively, American citizens may use the inquiry form below to submit inquiries related specifically to a case currently pending before our consulate. General questions regarding how Chinese citizens may apply for a U.S. non-immigrant visa can be answered by visiting www.ustraveldocs.com or calling the numbers listed on this website.

FAQs and Other Useful Information

Please see some of the most common answers to visa questions, as well as our holiday schedule below. 

More detailed information about U.S. visas can be found on the U.S. Visa Information Service for China website, by clicking one of the links below, or by calling our service center at 021-51915200.

• The Application Process
• Schedule An Interview
• Check My Visa Application Status
• Administrative Processing
• Track & Retrieve My Passport
• FAQs
• Contact A Customer Service Agent

Inquiries sent from anyone other than the applicant may not receive a reply due to privacy regulations, unless the applicant is a minor child.

What is the Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS)?

In accordance with the agreement signed between the United States and China to extend visa validity, beginning in November 2016, Chinese citizens with 10-year B1, B2 or B1/B2 visas in Peoples’ Republic of China passports will be required to update their biographical and other information from their visa application via a website every two years, or upon getting a new passport, whichever occurs first.  This mechanism will be called EVUS - Electronic Visa Update System.

In November 2016, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will launch the EVUS update process online. It will be very similar to the information update process that travelers from 38 other countries currently undergo every two years. 

You do not need to take any action until the EVUS online update system is available in November 2016.  The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has established an informational website to explain the program and visa holders’ future requirements at www.cbp.gov/EVUS.  The Consular Section encourages all holders of 10-year B1, B2 or B1/B2 visas in Peoples’ Republic of China passports to visit this website to obtain updated information throughout the year. 

Administrative Processing

The interviewing officer said administrative processing was required.  I have been waiting a long time and I still have not received my passport with the visa.  Why is it taking so long and when will it be ready?

This process normally takes 4-6 weeks, but can take longer.  However processing time can vary from individual to individual, and therefore we cannot provide a definitive time frame within which we can be certain that the approval will be received.  Please note this processing time is beyond the control of the consulate.  We are unable to “speed up” or “expedite” administrative processing for applicants.  However, we can assure you that we will conclude the visa application as soon as the processing is completed.

If it has been over 30 days since you applied for the visa and you have not heard from us, please e-mail us at support-china@ustraveldocs.com.   Please include your full name, passport number and current contact information in your request for information.  We receive a tremendous number of inquiries on cases undergoing administrative processing.  Therefore, we ask you not to contact us until you have waited at least 30 days.  If it has not yet been one month since your visa interview, we will not respond to your e-mail.

Wondering if You Need a New F1 Visa?

If you are a returning student and the student visa you used to enter the U.S. is still valid, you don’t need to apply for a new visa - even if you are changing schools or academic programs.  However, if this is your first time entering the United States on an F1 visa, the school listed on your visa must match the school on your most recent I-20 form.  If you are entering the U.S. on a student visa for the first time but you have changed your study plans and your student visa is annotated with a school that you do not plan on attending, you must apply for a new F1 visa and present your new I-20 form to the visa officer.  

All students must also ensure that:

1. They have a valid SEVIS record showing that they are in INITIAL or ACTIVE status at their new educational institution.
2. The SEVIS fee for their new I-20 has been paid.

Traveling with a Minor Under 14?

All children under the age of 14 who qualify for the drop box program and do not require an interview should submit their applications via CITIC Bank.

The safety of our youngest visa applicants is one of the U.S. Consulate General’s highest priorities.  Therefore, all applicants under the age of 14 applying for a nonimmigrant visa at the U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai must be accompanied by an adult.

This policy is only applicable to children who are required to come in for an interview.

Children under the age of 14 who are required to come in for an interview include:

• Prospective students applying for an F-1 visa.
• Exchange visitors applying for a J-1 visa.
• Children who are not citizens or residents of China.
• Children who have previously been found ineligible for a U.S. visa.

Adults who are not applying for their own visa must notify Consulate staff of their intention to accompany a child under the age of 14 at least two business days in advance of the child’s interview.   These individuals may contact us through our visa services center or our website webform.  The request should include the accompanying adult’s name, passport number and date of birth, along with the name, passport number and date of birth of the visa applicant, as well as their visa appointment time. 

Both the visa applicant and the accompanying adult will be refused entry into the visa unit if the accompanying adult does not provide the requested information to the U.S. Consulate at least two business days in advance of the child’s interview.  Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

Please carefully review the information on www.ustraveldocs.com regarding visa applications for minors under 14 before you submit your request.

Need to Get your Passport back for Urgent Travel?

If your case is undergoing administrative processing, but you need your passport to travel, please send us all relevant information in your request, including your travel itinerary and flight information.

Limited August Visa Appointments

Visa appointments during the month of August will be limited. We encourage all travelers, including students, to apply for their U.S. visas as soon as possible. Students may apply for their F1 visa up to 120 days before the start of their academic program. B1/B2 applicants traveling for business or leisure should schedule their visa appointment as soon as possible.  During the month of August, visa appointments for students and unforeseen business travel will be given priority. To avoid delays, all travelers should schedule their visa appointments as soon as they know they wish to travel to the U.S. Visit www.ustraveldocs.com for more information on how to apply and to make an appointment.

Please note that the U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai will be closed on the following dates in observance of the 2016 official American and Chinese holidays: