China - USCIS Beijing Field Office
ALERT: USCIS issued guidance (PDF, 315.53 KB), effective Feb 1, 2020, delegating authority to the Department of State (DOS) to accept and adjudicate a Form I-130 filed by a U.S. citizen petitioner for an immediate relative if the petitioner establishes exceptional circumstances or falls under blanket authorization criteria defined by USCIS. This guidance, which applies even in countries with a USCIS presence, can be found in the USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 6, Part B Chapter 3.
As of Feb. 1, 2020, USCIS will no longer accept and adjudicate routine Form I-130 petitions at its remaining international field offices. Petitioners residing overseas who are unable to file with DOS must file Form I-130 by mail with the USCIS lockbox facility in Dallas or online using the USCIS website.
Geographic Jurisdiction
USCIS Beijing is in the Asia/Pacific District and has jurisdiction over U.S. immigration matters in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, and Mongolia. For people residing in other regions of mainland China, please contact USCIS Guangzhou for further assistance.
Public hours
Tuesday and Thursday, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The office is closed on Chinese and American holidays.
Appointments
You must make an online appointment to visit USCIS Beijing. Please bring a printout of your online appointment letter and a government-issued photo ID with you to the appointment.
Walk-Ins
USCIS Beijing does not accept walk-ins.
Fee Payment Information
You must pay the Form I-131A fee online. For all other applications and petitions that you submit to this office, you must pay the fees to the U.S. Embassy cashier with Visa or MasterCard or in cash with U.S. dollars or Chinese RMB. Personal checks are not accepted.
Office Services
Click on the tabs below for additional information on each service. For a complete explanation of the fees, required forms and documentation associated with the forms that we may accept directly at this office, click on the form name within the tab. To see if there are any special instructions for filing at this office, please see the information under “Filing and Other Special Instructions” within each tab.
Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, Form and Fee Information
Purpose:
Use this form to establish your relationship to a relative who wishes to immigrate to the United States.
Filing and Other Special Instructions:
File your petition by mail with the USCIS Lockbox facility in Dallas or online using the USCIS website. You can find additional filing information on the Form I-130 webpage.
If you are a U.S. citizen, the Department of State may accept a petition from you if you are filing for your immediate relative (spouse, unmarried child under the age of 21, or parent (if you are 21 years of age or older) at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in certain limited circumstances, as described in USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 6, Part B, Chapter 3. Please contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate having jurisdiction over the area where you live for further information.
Active-Duty Military: If you are an active-duty U.S. citizen service member stationed permanently at a military base overseas, you may file this petition directly with the Department of State at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate without needing to establish exceptional circumstances.
Form I-131, Application for Travel Document (Refugee Travel Document)
You should file Form I-131 to apply for a refugee travel document and appear for any required biometrics service appointment BEFORE you leave the United States. If you are currently outside the United States, you may file a Form I-131 and apply for a refugee travel document if you have been outside the United States for less than 1 year at the time of filing. Please see the USCIS Form I-131 webpage for filing instructions. This office does not accept or process Form I-131 applications.
Form I-131A, Application for Travel Document (Carrier Documentation)
Form I-131A, Application for Travel Document (Carrier Documentation)
Purpose:
To allow lawful permanent residents (LPRs) who do not have a Green Card or reentry permit to apply for a travel document (carrier documentation) that permits a transportation carrier to allow them to board a flight or vessel to the United States without penalty.
Who May File or Receive Service:
You may apply for carrier documentation if you are an LPR and:
- You are returning from temporary international travel of less than one year and your Permanent Resident Card (also known as a Green Card or Form I-551) has been lost, stolen, or destroyed.
- You are returning from temporary international travel of less than two years and your reentry permit (Form I-327) has been lost, stolen, or destroyed.
We will measure the length of your absence from the United States from the time you departed the U.S. to the time you pay the fee for filing Form I-131A.
If you are an LPR with an expired Green Card, you may not need to file a Form I-131A. You should check with your airline or vessel before filing a Form I-131A.
Although regulations generally require an LPR to travel with a valid Green card, CBP policy permits a transportation carrier bound for the United States to board an LPR without carrier documentation if you:
- Are an LPR who has an expired Green Card that was issued with a 10-year expiration date, or
- Are an LPR with an expired Green Card with a two-year expiration date AND you also have a Form I-797, Notice of Action, for Form I-751 or Form I-829 to remove the conditions on your permanent resident status. The Notice of Action extends the validity of the Green Card for a specified length of time, generally 12 to 18 months.
Filing and Other Special Instructions:
Beginning Nov. 1, 2019, if you are a lawful permanent resident (LPR) who has lost your LPR card and/or reentry permit and you need travel documentation to return to the U.S., you can file your Form I-131A with any U.S. embassy consular section. To make an appointment to file the Form I-131A for travel documentation at a U.S. embassy or consulate, please see the embassy website for the location where you wish to file.
Before appearing to file a Form I-131A, you must pay the filing fee for this form online using the USCIS online payment system. You may pay the fee with your credit or debit card or U.S. bank account. When you appear in person to file Form I-131A, you must bring evidence that you paid the fee, such as a printed copy of your payment confirmation page or a printed copy of your emailed receipt. As with all immigration fees, we do not issue refunds regardless of the decision on the application.
Child Born Abroad to an LPR
If you are an LPR mother and your child is born abroad during your temporary absence from the United States, your child may enter the United States without a visa before he or she turns two years old if your child is accompanied by their LPR mother or LPR father on their first return to the United States. CBP’s guidance indicates that an airline may board a child in this situation. If an airline refuses to board your child without carrier documentation, we can issue a transportation letter. You do not need to file Form I-131A or pay a fee for this service. Please contact this USCIS office for additional information.
If your child does not come to the United States when you, the LPR parent, first return to the United States, consult the U.S. Consulate or this USCIS office about the availability of an immigrant visa for your child.
If your child was conceived via Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and the LPR mother is not the genetic or legal gestational mother of the child, the child may not be eligible for a transportation letter. Please contact this USCIS office for additional information.
Outside the U.S. For More than One Year
If you have been outside of the United States for more than one year without a reentry permit (or more than two years with a reentry permit), you will need to either seek a returning resident visa (SB-1) with the Consular Section of the U.S. Consulate or U.S. Embassy nearest to you, or consult with the USCIS office that has jurisdiction over the country in which you are traveling about an alternative travel document.
For information about maintaining your residency receiving your Green Card, see our After a Green Card is Granted page.
Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant
Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant, Form and Fee Information
Purpose:
In the international context, widow(er)s mostly use this form to apply for certain benefits that we grant to various special categories of individuals who are eligible for immigration.
Who May File or Receive Service:
The widow(er) of a deceased U.S. citizen.
Filing and Other Special Instructions:
If you reside outside the United States, you may be able to file at the U.S. embassy or consulate having jurisdiction over the area where you live. Please contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate having jurisdiction over the area where you live for more information.
Please see the Form I-360 webpage for the most current filing instructions.
Form N-400, Application for Naturalization (For Military Abroad)
Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, Form and Fee Information
Purpose:
To apply for U.S. citizenship.
Who May File or Receive Service:
Members of the U.S. military stationed overseas and their qualifying family members who reside in USCIS Beijing's jurisdiction.
Filing and Other Special Instructions:
USCIS Beijing Field Office processes naturalization and citizenship applications only for overseas military personnel and their qualifying family members.
You cannot file Forms N-400, N-600, or N-600K directly with the USCIS Beijing Field Office. You must file these forms with the appropriate USCIS Lockbox facility. Please see the Form N-400, Form N‑600, or Form N-600K webpage or call the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283 for the most current filing instructions. If you are an active duty military member on orders abroad or a qualifying family member, USCIS will forward your application to the appropriate international office if you are eligible for processing abroad.
If you are an active duty military member on orders abroad or a qualifying family member, you can find more information about who qualifies for naturalization or citizenship on our Citizenship for Family Members page. If you are an active duty military member living outside the U.S. and your child is on your official orders, you may be eligible to file Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship or Form N-600K, Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate Under Section 322 for your child. If you are eligible to file Form N-600K, your child may complete the entire naturalization process abroad. Please also see our Policy Manual for quick reference charts and information on overseas naturalization benefits for qualifying spouses and children of U.S. military personnel.
Additionally, U.S. military members may email militaryinfo@uscis.dhs.gov to:
- Ask questions about filing Form N-400, Form N-600K, or Form N-600;
- Request overseas processing of a pending Form N-400, Form N-600K, or Form N-600; or
- Change your address of record for a pending Form N-400, Form N-600K, or Form N-600.
USCIS does not use this email address to respond to questions about any other USCIS forms. For questions or requests related to all other USCIS forms, call the toll-free Military Help Line at 877-CIS-4MIL (877-247-4645).
Form I-407, Record of Abandonment of Lawful Permanent Resident Status
Form I-407, Record of Abandonment of Lawful Permanent Resident Status
Purpose:
To voluntarily abandon your lawful permanent resident (LPR) status/turn in your Green Card.
Who May File or Receive Service:
Any individual who wishes to abandon his or her permanent resident status and give up his or her Permanent Resident Card (Green Card).
Filing and Other Special Instructions:
You can submit this form by mail to:
For U.S. Postal Service (USPS):
USCIS Eastern Forms Center
Attn: I-407 Unit
PO Box 567
Williston, VT 05495
For FedEx, UPS, DHL or other express/registered deliveries:
USCIS Eastern Forms Center
Attn: I-407 Unit
124 Leroy Road
Williston, VT 05495
You will need to turn in your Permanent Resident Card, if available, along with any other travel documents issued by USCIS. Do not submit any non-USCIS issued documents such as a state-issued driver’s license or a Social Security card. For additional information on how to submit your form, please visit the Form I-407 webpage.
Forms I-407 received at the USCIS international offices after July 1, 2019, will be transferred directly to Eastern Form Center (EFC). If you have questions regarding Form I-407 please contact USCIS Contact Center.
Form I-590, Registration for Classification as a Refugee
Form I-590, Registration for Classification as a Refugee
Purpose:
To determine eligibility for refugee status.
Who May File or Receive Service:
Individuals who have been referred for refugee resettlement through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.
This form is not accepted at any international USCIS office.
Filing and Other Special Instructions:
If you have questions about eligibility for a referral for refugee resettlement, please contact the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) through the information on the UNCHR website .
This field office is unable to directly receive refugee resettlement applications. For general information and processing criteria please see USCIS’ information about the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program or the Department of State’s website on refugee admissions.
Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition
Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan, Form and Fee Information
Purpose:
To request orphan classification for a child who either is, or will be, adopted by a U.S. citizen to allow the child to enter the United States.
Who May File or Receive Service:
U.S. citizens who reside in USCIS Beijing's jurisdiction and seek to adopt a child from a non-Hague Convention country.
Filing and Other Special Instructions:
You may file your Form I-600 petition:
- By mail with the USCIS lockbox facility in Dallas; the USCIS National Benefits Center will process the petition, or
- In person with the appropriate U.S. embassy or consulate in the adoptive child’s country of origin (if certain criteria are met).
You may find updated information on the Form I-600 webpage on the USCIS website.
You can find information on intercountry adoptions and procedures on the Department of State website and in the Adoption section of our website.
Please Note: China is a Hague Adoption Convention country. If you are filing to adopt a child from a Hague Adoption Convention Country, you must use Form I-800A and Form I-800 and file with USCIS in the United States.
Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative
Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative
Purpose:
To request orphan classification for a child who either is, or will be, adopted by a U.S. citizen to allow the child to enter the United States.
Filing and Other Special Instructions:
You may file your Form I-600 petition:
- By mail with the USCIS lockbox facility in Dallas; the USCIS National Benefits Center will process the petition, or
- In person with the appropriate U.S. embassy or consulate in the adoptive child’s country of origin (if certain criteria are met).
You may find updated information on the Form I-600 webpage on the USCIS website.
You can find information on intercountry adoptions and procedures on the Department of State website and in the Adoption section of our website.
Please Note: China is a Hague Adoption Convention country. If you are filing to adopt a child from a Hague Adoption Convention Country, you must use Form I-800A and Form I-800 and file with USCIS in the United States.
Form I-601, Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility
Form I-601, Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility, Form and Fee Information
Purpose:
For those otherwise approved to immigrate to the United States, but are ineligible to enter because one or more grounds of inadmissibility that may be waived applies to them.
Who May File or Receive Service:
Individuals who reside in USCIS Beijing's jurisdiction and can show that:
- There are exceptional and compelling humanitarian circumstances that require immediate filing and adjudication; and
- Expedited processing would be insufficient to address the urgency.
Filing and Other Special Instructions:
Except as provided below, Forms I-601 must be filed with the USCIS Lockbox in the United States by mail. You may submit a written request for expedited processing along with your application when you file with the Lockbox if you believe there are extraordinary circumstances that require expedited processing. Further instructions on requesting expedited processing domestically can be found on the How to Make an Expedite Request webpage.
To file with USCIS San Salvador:
We will grant an exception to Lockbox filing and permission to file Forms I-601 at an international office if:
- The applicant resides in a country where a USCIS office is located;
- There are exceptional and compelling humanitarian circumstances that require immediate filing and adjudication; and
- Expedited processing would not address the urgency of the circumstances.
For information about the exceptions to Lockbox filing and permission to file Forms I-601 at an international office, including examples of possible qualifying circumstances, please see the USCIS policy memorandum (PDF, 78.82 KB) on exceptions for international filing.
To request an exception to Lockbox filing and permission to file at this office, please contact USCIS Beijing for further instructions.
Form I-212, Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission into the United States After Deportation or Removal
Form I-212, Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission into the United States After Deportation or Removal, Form and Fee Information
Purpose:
To obtain consent to reapply for admission to the United States after having been deported or removed, or because you unlawfully returned to the United States without admission after a previous removal or after previous unlawful presence.
Who May File or Receive Service:
Those who have been granted an exception to Lockbox filing and given permission to file an associated Form I-601 at an international office, as described in the tab on Form I-601, Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility.
Filing and Other Special Instructions:
File with the USCIS office in the United States indicated in the Form I-212 instructions.
If you need to file both Form I-212 and Form I-601, file them together at the Lockbox address specified in the Form I-601 instructions.
If USCIS Beijing decides that exceptional and compelling humanitarian circumstances warrant filing your Form I-601 with USCIS Beijing, you can also file the Form I-212 with the Form I-601.
If you file Form I-601 and Form I-212 together, be sure to submit the correct filing fee for each separate form.
Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition
Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition, Form and Fee Information
Purpose:
To petition for your relative to join you - a refugee or asylee - in the United States.
Who May File or Receive Service:
Approved refugees or asylees file this application in the United States for their qualifying relatives living abroad.
Filing and Other Special Instructions:
Please see the Form I-730 form page for filing instructions.
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If you... |
This office will... |
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Have a relative who is a beneficiary of a Form I-730 residing in:
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Contact you, your relative and any representative of record to initiate processing once it has received the Form I-730 from the appropriate USCIS Service Center. |
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Are the beneficiary of a Form I-730 filed with a USCIS service center and you reside in any of the provinces listed above. |
Contact you, your petitioning relative and any representative of record to initiate processing and gather additional information and documents, once it has received the Form I-730 from the appropriate USCIS service center. |
Please Note: It is important to notify this office if the beneficiary's contact information listed on Form I-730 has changed. You should inform us of any such changes by submitting your change via phone or email to this office. Due to customs delays, it may take up to two months for a Form I-730 forwarded by a USCIS service center to reach this office. Contact this office for case status inquiries only when more than two months have passed since you received a Form I-730 Approval or Transfer Notice from the service center and you have not received any correspondence from USCIS during that two month period.
Collection of Re-entry Permit
Collection of Re-entry Permit
Purpose:
To pick-up a re-entry permit that was approved through the filing of a Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, allowing lawful permanent residents to return to the United States after travel abroad in certain circumstances (PDF, 667.32 KB).
Who May File or Receive Service:
For those who have submitted an application for a re-entry permit through the filing of a Form I-131, Application for Travel Document in the United States and have requested that the re-entry permit be sent to the U.S. Consulate/USCIS in Beijing.
Filing and Other Special Instructions:
This office does not adjudicate re-entry permits. If we are provided with contact information, USCIS Beijing will contact the applicant when the Form I-131 has been approved by an office in the United States and the re-entry permit is ready for collection. If you believe that the permit has been sent to USCIS Beijing and you have not heard from us, you may send us an inquiry.
Instructions on how to obtain or replace a re-entry permit are found at How Do I Get a Re-Entry Permit (PDF, 667.32 KB).
Fingerprint Collection
Fingerprint Collection
Purpose:
To support certain applications and petitions pending with a USCIS international office and, in some cases, domestic office.
Who May File or Receive Service:
Generally, individuals residing in China may request biometrics (e.g., fingerprints and photographs) collection associated with the following forms after USCIS has requested biometrics in association with the adjudication of that form type:
- Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e);
- Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative;
- Form I-131, Application for Travel Document (Refugee Travel Document (RTD)) — If the applicant has departed the United States without an RTD and has received permission from USCIS to file Form I-131 with this office. Otherwise, it is at the field office director’s discretion as explained in the section For All other Forms Not Listed Above. Residency is not required;
- Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er) or Special Immigrant;
- Form I-590, Registration for Classification as Refugee;
- Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative—Residency is not always required;
- Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition—Residency is not always required;
- Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition;
- Form I-800A, Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt from Convention Country—Residency is not always required;
- Form I-914, Application for T Nonimmigrant Status**;
- Form I-918, Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status**;
- Form N-400, Application for Naturalization—For active duty military service members stationed abroad and their dependents, and for certain applicants who are eligible for naturalization under section 319(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Notes for Active Duty Military:
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If you are an active duty military service member or dependent stationed abroad and are filing: |
Then: |
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You may have your fingerprints taken on a military base and do not need to appear at a USCIS office for a biometrics appointment. |
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The Conditional Lawful Permanent Resident (CLPR) does not need to attend a biometrics appointment. Instead your military base point of contact (POC) can take the CLPR’s fingerprints on a fingerprint card which you may include when mailing the petition in to a USCIS office in the United States. |
Note: Dependents must include the USCIS biometrics fee when filing the Form N-400, even if your fingerprints were taken on the U.S. military base.
For All Other Forms Not Listed Above:
Biometrics collection is usually scheduled at an Application Support Center (ASC) based on the applicant’s address of record.
In rare circumstances, field office directors may use their discretion to collect biometrics that were initially scheduled to be taken in the United States. When deciding whether to collect biometrics at an international field office, field office director's will take into account resource constraints, and also consider appropriate supporting evidence the applicant provides as well as the following factors:
- An appointment notice showing that biometrics collection was scheduled at a domestic USCIS office;
- Evidence of extenuating circumstances that would require the individual to depart the United States before having his or her biometrics collected as indicated in the appointment notice. For example, these circumstances might include, but are not limited to, the need to assist a critically ill family member, an unexpected immediate job transfer, or other urgent need; and
- Evidence that the applicant requested an expedited or rescheduled appointment at an ASC before leaving the United States and, if not, an explanation of the reasons for failing to request an expedited or rescheduled appointment.
For Those Residing Abroad:
- Evidence of the compelling circumstances or hardship that would prevent the applicant or petitioner from traveling back to the United States for an ASC appointment. Generally, the expense of traveling back to the United States would not, in itself, be considered a hardship. Because of the small number of staff in our international offices, you may experience a delay in appointment availability for biometrics collection.
Filing and Other Special Instructions:
You can contact USCIS Beijing to determine whether you are eligible to have your biometrics captured at this office or for further information.
*Note: The available fingerprinting services noted above are only applicable if you live in a country with a USCIS office.
**Note: USCIS international offices do not handle visa processing for T or U visas. However, they do assist T visa applicants and U visa petitioners with biometric services relating to the underlying Form I-914 or Form I-918 processed by a USCIS domestic office. The U.S. Department of State’s Consular Section handles visa processing.
Request for Review of a Denial of Refugee Status
Request for Review of a Denial of Refugee Status
Purpose:
To request review of a denial of an application for refugee status (Form I-590).
Who May File or Receive Service:
Individuals who have applied for and been denied refugee status through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.
Filing and Other Special Instructions:
You can submit your request to the Resettlement Support Center (RSC) that prepared your refugee case.
For information on other immigration benefits, please visit uscis.gov. For your convenience, we have provided links to information on some commonly asked about services:
- Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e): Used to petition to bring your fiancé(e) (K-1) and that person's children (K-2s) to the United States for marriage to you, or to bring your spouse and that person's children (K-3 and K-4 visas, respectively) to the United States to complete processing for permanent resident status. You can also read more about fiancé(e) visas on the USCIS website.
- Form I-131, Application for Travel Document: Used for a number of immigration benefits, including re-entry permits, refugee travel documents or advance parole travel documents, including parole into the United States for humanitarian reasons.
- Form N-600K, Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate Under Section 322 (Children’s Citizenship): Used for a child who regularly resides in a foreign country to apply for U.S. citizenship based on the U.S. citizenship of the child's parent(s).
- Obtaining a certified true copy of a naturalization certificate.
- Requesting copies of documents from your Alien file (A-File) through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.
- Our USCIS Contact Center has additional information available on its Web page (you must live in the United States or its territories to call for live assistance).
- The USCIS Contact Center’s Reference Guide is available from anywhere around the globe. The guide provides additional information on the services USCIS provides.
Visas
For in-depth information about visas, please check the Visa Services section of the Department of State’s website.