Nonimmigrant Visa
Important Updates
Posted on Sep 29, 2006
Beginning October 1st, 2006 anyone applying for a visa at the U.S. Consulate, Shenyang will be required to come prepared with an Electronic Visa Application Form (EVAF). This form is available online at http://evisaforms.state.gov . All applicants must complete the visa application form online, print the form, and bring it with them to their visa interview. The electronic visa form helps us to process applications more quickly and reduces the chance of data-entry error. This new EVAF only policy will help us provide the general public with faster service and cut down on the time applicants must wait for their interview. For more information regarding the electronic visa applications, or for general visa information, please visit our website at http://shenyang.usconsulate.gov . Thank you for your cooperation.
Posted on Jan 7, 2005
The Embassy of the United States of America in Beijing is pleased to announce that beginning January 15, 2005, the U.S. embassy and four consulates in China, as well as U.S. embassies and consulates around the world, will begin issuing to otherwise qualified Chinese citizens, who wish to visit the United States temporarily for business (B-1) or pleasure (B-2), visas that are valid for 12 months and multiple entries. The previous maximum validity of U.S. visas for these purposes was six months.
On a reciprocal basis, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also agreed to issue to American citizens visiting China on temporary business and tourism visas valid for the same 12 months and for multiple entries. While China and the U.S. will in principle issue maximum validity visas to each others citizens, on a case by case basis each side may limit the period of validity and number of entries as required by law and regulation.
The U.S. Embassy and Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs exchanged diplomatic notes on this agreement in December 2004.
The Embassy believes this mutual extension of visa reciprocity will be a significant benefit to frequent travelers between China and the United States. The longer validity of visas means these frequent travelers will not have to renew their visas so frequently, saving time and money and making travel more convenient.
In 2004, the U.S. Embassy and four consulates in China issued 228,600 nonimmigrant visas. Of these, 173,140 or more than 77% were to visitors for temporary business (B-1) or tourism (B-2). The Embassy believes as many as one in ten of these travelers for temporary business or tourism visit the United States more than once a year.
Attention Student, Exchang Visitor Visa Applicants
SEVIS FEE IN EFFECT AFTER SEPTEMBER 1, 2004
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced implementation of the SEVIS (Student Exchange Visitor Information System) fee. Effective immediately, each student or exchange scholar issued an initial Form I-20 or DS-2019 on or after September 1, 2004, is responsible for paying this fee before applying for a visa. Persons sponsored by the United States Government are exempt from payment of the SEVIS fee. Most continuing students and exchange visitors will also not be required to pay the SEVIS fee.
The SEVIS fee has been set at $100. Certain short-term exchange visitors will pay a reduced fee of $35. All applicants required to pay the SEVIS fee will also have to complete Form I-901. This form is available on-line at www.fmjfee.com
Currently, the SEVIS fee can be paid by credit card on-line or by international money order or check drawn on a financial institution in the United States if payable in United States currency. China has been selected to participate in a pilot program for overseas, off-site fee collection. Preliminary plans are to make the fee payable at a local Chinese bank. This option is NOT yet available. Please check our website regularly for further updates on this payment option.
The SEVIS I-901 fee is mandated by Congress to support the automated system that keeps track of students and exchange visitors to ensure that they maintain their lawful status in the United States. For more information regarding the SEVIS fee, please refer to the SEVIS website at http://www.ice.gov/sevis.
Posted on March, 2004
On Monday, March 22, 2004, the United States Embassy in Beijing will begin collecting biometric identifiers, or fingerprints, for nonimmigrant visa applicants. This program was mandated by the United States Congress in Section 303 of the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002. Other United States Consulates General will also begin fingerprint collection within the next several weeks.
This law requires that, by October 26, 2004, the United States government shall issue to international visitors only machine-readable, tamper-resistant visas and other travel and entry documents that use biometric identifiers.?
These biometric visas will facilitate rapid and precise identification of travels, protecting the identity of the visitor while enabling more secure processing of travelers at ports of entry in the United States. The biometric will be checked at the port of entry in the United States to verify that the person presenting the visa is the same person who was issued the visa.
The two index fingers of a visa applicant will be electronically scanned in an inkless process at the beginning of the nonimmigrant visa interview. Collecting the fingerprints should add no more than one minute to the application process and in most cases will take only seconds. The electronic data from the fingerprints will be stored in a database and will be available to the Department of Homeland Security immigration officers at ports of entry in the United States.
This worldwide biometric enrollment program began in September 2003. As of today, there are more than 70 U.S. missions worldwide collecting biometrics for visa applicants, including several in Asia. All visa-issuing embassies and consulates will be doing this for visa applicants by October 26, 2004.
Applicants for U.S. visas between the ages of 14 and 80, except for diplomatic or government personnel traveling on official business, are required to be fingerprinted. This means that certain people who were previously eligible for a personal appearance waiver will now have to come to the Consulate to have their fingerprints collected. More information may be obtained and appointments should be made by calling our Visa Information Call Center at 4008-872-333 from within China (toll free), or from within China or overseas at (86-21) 3881-4611 (local Shanghai number).
How to have your fingerprints enrolled
- Please wait for the officer's instructions.
- When asked, place your right index finger in the middle of the red square and press
- When asked, place your left index finger in the middle of the red square and press
Posted on March, 2004
Over the course of the next several months, the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and U.S. Consulates General in China will begin fingerprint scanning for most non-immigrant and immigrant visa applicants. The precise date of the implementation will depend at each post on the completion of technical preparations and the installation of the appropriate equipment.
Congress mandated the use of biometrics (fingerprint scanning) in visa issuance in the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002.
Fingerprint scanning has been successfully introduced in 63 consular sections so far, including Hong Kong. By October 26 of this year, all visa-issuing embassies and consulates worldwide will be required to collect fingerprint scans in connection with non-immigrant visa applications.
The Department of State is not singling out any particular country or mission for implementation. This security enhancement is intended as an important link in America’s overall plan to improve border security. It will also help ensure better security for all prospective visitors to the U.S.
The scanning itself is quick, unobtrusive, and will only add a few seconds to the application process. The two index fingers of a visa applicant will be scanned electronically during the consular officer’s interview with the applicant by placement of the fingers onto a small scanner at the interview window.
Scanning is inkless.
An applicant who refuses to be fingerprinted would have his or her application denied on the basis that it is incomplete. However, an applicant who then later decides to provide fingerprints would have his or her visa application considered without prejudice.
The following applicants are exempt:
- Children under 14
- Adults over 79
- A-1, A-2, G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, C-2, and C-3 category visa applicants (in general, these are foreign government officials traveling on official business, as well as some government representatives to international organizations, or those officials in transit through the U.S.)
- Individuals traveling to the U.S. for urgent medical treatment who cannot reasonably appear for fingerprinting
If an applicant is missing an index finger, another finger will be scanned. If an applicant has a temporary condition (e.g. cut or blister), they will be instructed to reapply when the index finger heals.
Fingerprint scanning at post is an essential link in US national security, because the prints will be compared with those collected at ports of entry. This will verify identity and reduce the use of stolen and counterfeit visas; it will also make travel to the US safer for all legitimate travelers.
The inclusion of biometric data in travel records will also make it easier to replace lost or stolen travel documents by facilitating confirmation of identity
New Online Visa Application Form
The U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai is pleased to announce a new online visa application form (the English DS-156) that will save time for applicants and our Consular Section staff. The new online form contains a bar code which will allow us to electronically transfer data and therefore reduce waiting time during the visa application process. As of February 9, 2004, we will give priority in visa application submission and interview order to those applicants who present the new bar-coded forms with their application packages.
The new online visa application form can be downloaded from our Consulate website: http://evisaforms.state.gov Once the application form is completed online, it must be printed, and then submitted to the Consular Section at the time of the visa interview. Please submit the original printed form -- photocopies or faxes of the printed form are not acceptable. If visa applicants are unable to access the new online form or to meet the system requirements, they can still fill out the English DS-156 form manually. For now, the other application forms (DS-157 and DS-158) and the Chinese versions of all visa application forms must still be filled out manually.
Once the application form is completed online, it must be printed, and then submitted to the Consular Section at the time of the visa interview. . If visa applicants are unable to access the new online form or to meet the system requirements, they can still fill out the English DS-156 form manually. For now, the other application forms ( and ) and the Chinese versions of all visa application forms must still be filled out manually.
Once the application form is completed online, it must be printed, and then submitted to the Consular Section at the time of the visa interview. . If visa applicants are unable to access the new online form or to meet the system requirements, they can still fill out the English DS-156 form manually. For now, the other application forms ( and ) and the Chinese versions of all visa application forms must still be filled out manually. Once the application form is completed online, it must be printed, and then submitted to the Consular Section at the time of the visa interview. . If visa applicants are unable to access the new online form or to meet the system requirements, they can still fill out the English DS-156 form manually. For now, the other application forms ( and ) and the Chinese versions of all visa application forms must still be filled out manually. Once the application form is completed online, it must be printed, and then submitted to the Consular Section at the time of the visa interview. . If visa applicants are unable to access the new online form or to meet the system requirements, they can still fill out the English DS-156 form manually. For now, the other application forms ( and ) and the Chinese versions of all visa application forms must still be filled out manually. Once the application form is completed online, it must be printed, and then submitted to the Consular Section at the time of the visa interview. . If visa applicants are unable to access the new online form or to meet the system requirements, they can still fill out the English DS-156 form manually. For now, the other application forms ( and ) and the Chinese versions of all visa application forms must still be filled out manually. Once the application form is completed online, it must be printed, and then submitted to the Consular Section at the time of the visa interview. . If visa applicants are unable to access the new online form or to meet the system requirements, they can still fill out the English DS-156 form manually. For now, the other application forms ( and ) and the Chinese versions of all visa application forms must still be filled out manually.
There are some system requirements for using the new online visa application form.
- You must use either an ink-jet or laser printer to print the completed form.
- Your Internet browser must support 128-bit encryption.
- If you are using Internet Explorer, the minimum version that will work with the site is version 5.0, with service pack 2. If you are using Netscape, the minimum version that will work with the site is version 6.2.
- You must also have Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to download and print the completed application form. The minimum version that will work with the site is version 5.
- If possible, please print the two pages of the DS-156 form on one sheet of paper, front and back. The 2D barcode will print on a separate page.
If your system does not meet these requirements, you might consider using a computer that does at an Internet Cafe.
We encourage as many visa applicants as possible to use this new online visa application form. It will save valuable time for everyone. Thank you your cooperation.
Visa Waiver Travel Requires Machine-readable Passport
Posted on September, 2003
Starting October 1, 2003, nationals from the following countries will be required to have machine readable passports (MRP) if they are traveling to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program: Andorra, Belgium, Brunei, Liechtenstein and Slovenia.
Any traveler from the aforementioned countries without an MRP will be required to obtain a visa from a U.S. Embassy or Consulate before coming to the United States. The worldwide application fee for a visa to enter the United States is US $100. The MRP requirement applies to both adults and children.
The following countries have been given waivers of the MRP requirement until October 26, 2004: Australia, Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries are permitted to enter the United States for general business or tourist purposes for a maximum of 90 days without needing a visa. Countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program have long been required to have a program for the issuance of machine-readable passports, but the requirement mandated by the USA Patriot Act of 2001 makes the use of such a passport mandatory for visa-free entry after the designated date.
An MRP can generally be identified by the presence of two typeface lines printed at the bottom of the biographical page that can be read by machine. These lines electronically provide some of the information contained on the upper part of the biographical page. The MRP requirement applies to all categories of passport: regular, official or diplomatic. If a traveler has any doubt about whether a passport qualifies as machine-readable, he or she should check with the passport issuing authority for that country.
MRPs enhance security as they can be scanned at entry and exit points to verify the integrity of the passport data. Because machine-readable passports facilitate rapid and precise identification, they enable faster processing of travelers at ports of entry. They also provide for advance passenger information, so border inspectors can do much of their processing before a flight arrives.
Complete details of the Visa Waiver Program requirements can be found at the Department of State's Visa Services web site, http://travel.state.gov/vwp.html
Non-Immigrant Visas
Immigrant Visas
