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.