Interview Waiver Pilot Program
On February 13, Mission China will launch a pilot program to streamline visa
processing by permitting consular officers to waive interviews for some
qualified nonimmigrant applicants worldwide who are renewing their visa within
48 months (four years) of the expiration of their previously held visa, and
within the same classification as the previous visa. In China, previous holders
of B (temporary visitors for business/pleasure), C-1 (transit), D (crewmembers),
F (students), J (exchange visitors), M (nonacademic students), and O (visitors
with extraordinary ability) visas can renew their visas if they have been
expired less than 48 months (four years).
Over the course of the year, this policy could open as many as 100,000 interview
appointments for Chinese travelers applying for visas for the first time.
Our partners at CITIC Bank are aware of the new procedures. Applicants who
qualify for interview waiver under the new guidelines can follow existing
procedures to renew their visas.
Protecting our borders and national security remains the U.S. government’s
highest priority. As always, with this renewal program, some applicants who
apply to renew their visa without an interview will be called in for an
interview for both security and quality control reasons.
Opening an Additional Visa Processing Location in Beijing
Later this year, we will reopen our former Embassy consular facility located in
the first Diplomatic Neighborhood of Beijing.
We anticipate that reopening this facility will increase our interviewing
capacity in Beijing by 50%, as many as 150,000 visas.
Economic Impact
Encouraging increased travel between China and the United States is mutually
beneficial. Not only do we learn more about each other’s culture and society,
but increased tourism is good for our economies.
In 2010, more than 800,000 Chinese nationals traveled to the United States, each
spending an average of $6,000 per trip. The Department of Commerce expects the
number of first-time Chinese travelers to the United States to triple in the
next five years.
For full version of the program introduction please see:
http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/20120209amb-visa.html
New Drop-off Visa Service Procedures
The U.S. Consulate Guangzhou offers a drop-off visa service in order to
expedite the visa application process. In most cases, using this service
eliminates the need to come to the Consulate for an interview. Like an
interview, however, the use of the drop-off service does not guarantee visa
issuance. Further, the Consulate may, in some cases, after reviewing an
application submitted through the drop-off service, require a person to appear
at the Consulate for an in-person interview.
Qualifications for Drop-off Visa Service
Two categories of applicants may qualify to use the drop-off visa service:
(1). applicants under the age of 14 or over the age of 79; and
(2) applicants who have already obtained a U.S. visa that expired within the
last 48 months.
Please see below for further details regarding requirements for these two
categories. The Embassy or Consulate may in some cases, after reviewing such an
application, require an applicant to appear in person for a visa interview. Due
to increasing demand for visa interview appointments, we strongly encourage visa
applicants who are eligible for our drop box system to take advantage of this
service.
Age Qualifications
Children under 14 who have at least one parent who holds a valid U.S.
non-immigrant visa may apply through the drop-off service. Please include with
the application a copy of the child’s birth certificate or family hukou
registration book, as well as a copy of the parent’s passport and a copy of the
parent’s valid non-immigrant visa. If both parents have a visa, please include
with the application evidence of both parents’ visas. Please note, if a parent
or parents are applying in-person for a visa at the Consulate, not through the
drop-off service, the parent(s) may bring in the child's application at the time
of their interview and apply on the child's behalf.
Applicants who are 80 years old or older, and either
(1) have not been previously found ineligible for a U.S. visa, or
(2) have been issued a valid U.S. visa that will expire less than 48 months from
the date of renewal may apply through the drop-off service.
Past
U.S. Travel Qualifications
Repeat travelers to the United States may qualify to use the Drop-off Visa
Renewal Service to renew their visas. This process allows qualifying applicants
to apply for a new visa by submitting their visa application via authorized
providers. Using the service may eliminate the need to come to your nearest
Embassy or Consulate. The use of the drop-off service does not guarantee visa
issuance.
Applicants may drop-off their visa application at any of the approved drop-off
service providers, if they meet the following requirements:
FOR ALL APPLICANTS
(1). You must be physically present in China.
(2). Your previous visa was a B (temporary visitor for business/pleasure); C-1
(transit); D (crewmembers); F (students); J (exchange visitors); M (nonacademic
students) or; O (visitors with extraordinary abilities).
(3). Your previous visa must be currently valid or must have expired within the
last 48 months.
(4). You must be applying for the exact same type of visa. You must have
provided all 10 fingerprints during a previous visa interview.
Note: The U.S. Embassy and Consulates did not start collecting 10
fingerprints until November 15, 2007. If your previous visa was issued before
that date you may not have submitted 10 fingerprints, and are not eligible for
this program.
Applicants renewing F-1 visas whose previous visas include an annotation
"clearance received" and whose visas expired less than 3 years ago should apply
through the drop box. To use the drop box, F-1 visa applicants must plan to
continue attending a U.S. school or institution in which they are already
enrolled.
Applicants renewing other eligible visa classes whose previous visas have
the "clearance received" annotation should schedule an appointment to apply in
person.
Applicants renewing J-1 visas may use the drop box if they are continuing
in an exchange program in which they are already participating.
Procedures for Drop-off Visa Service
Step 1: Select a Drop-off Visa Service Provider
Step 2: Include Essential Documentation
All applicants needs following documentations: valid passport, the DS-160
application form confirmation page, photograph, original bank receipt for visa
application fee. For more details of these documentations and documentations for
those specific applicants please see
http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/drop-off-service.html