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Important Updates
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Electronic Visa Application Form (EVAF)
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Nonimmigrant Visa
Important UpdatesSpecial Administrative Processing: The Visas Mantis ProgramThe U.S. government has implemented procedural changes to the process for secondary screening of visa applicants who wish to enter the United States for purposes related to certain scientific or high-technology fields, or who have backgrounds in such fields. These changes will enable us to process applications for scientists, researchers, students and high-tech workers in about two weeks. The agencies involved in the process also are adding staff to increase capacity to screen not only visa applicants in the fields of science and technology, but those requiring other security-related screenings as well. This screening process is known as the “Visas Mantis” program. The purpose of this program is to counter proliferation and the illegal transfer of sensitive scientific and technical information. The program has been highly successful in barring entry to the United States of persons who may seek to obtain sensitive scientific and technical information and transfer it to countries that support terrorism or that are of proliferation concern. However, increases in Mantis processing times over the last year have led to concerns that the program has become an obstacle to the legitimate sharing of scientific information. It is not our policy to reveal details of the program, but it’s designed to implement a provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act that makes an alien inadmissible when there are reasonable grounds to believe that he/she seeks to enter the United States to violate or evade any law prohibiting the export from the United States of goods, technology or sensitive information.In FY 2008, some 8.7 million people worldwide applied for nonimmigrant visas to the United States. About 56,000 of those were subject to Mantis processing. Under the new procedures, the vast majority of those applications will be processed in about two weeks.
The average visa processing wait time is the number of working days necessary to process the visa and return the visa and passport to the applicant, after the interview has concluded. The majority of visas in Shenyang are processed and returned to the applicant within several days. Average visa processing wait time DOES NOT include the time required for administrative processing. These procedures require additional time. When administrative processing is required, the timing will vary based on individual circumstances of each case. Visa processing wait times can change. Please see below for the current average processing times: Administrative processing for student and exchange visitor visas is currently taking approximately 2 weeks.Administrative processing for other classes of visas is currently taking approximately 4 weeks.Please click here for more administrative processing information.As of March 2009, the majority of A, B1/B2, F, J, L, and O visas subjected to special administrative processing are valid for twelve months, with multiple entries. H visas will continue to be limited to 3 months, with 2 entries, in accordance with the reciprocity schedule for China.However, the Consulate reserves the right to limit the validity of certain visas subjected to additional administrative processing, on a case-by-case basis.In light of the current H1N1 Influenza A outbreak, the U.S. Consulate’s Consular Section is taking every precaution to protect the health and safety of all of our customers. We will continue to provide regular visa processing services as normal, but request that you reschedule your appointment if you or any of your immediate family members are experiencing flu symptoms. We will reschedule your appointment for free at a time of your convenience once you are well. Please contact the Visa Unit by fax at 2323-1465 if you need to reschedule your appointment. For the health and safety of all of our customers, we reserve the right to refuse anyone entry to the Consular Section if we observe that a visitor exhibits flu-like symptoms. Thank you for your cooperation.Warning: Only a U.S. Government Official has the Right to Cancel a U.S. Visa! Please Note: If Someone Else Cancels Your Visa, Please Inform the Visa Unit by Sending a Fax to (86-24) 2323-1465.
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