How to apply for a visa to the United States

The process of applying for a U.S. visa:

Step 1: Apply for a passport

No matter which country you are applying for a visa, you must hold a passport from that country, and the U.S. visa is no exception. .

Step 2: Determine the visa location

There are five visa locations nationwide (mainland): Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, Chengdu, and Shenyang.

Step 3: Make a visa appointment

Step 4: Determine your visa type

Common types include: student visa F1, spouse and children visa F2; visit Scholars (exchange scholars) have J1 visas, spouses and children have J2 visas; business visas have B1; tourist and family visit visas have B2; work visas (the employer is a US company) have H1b visas, and spouses and children have H4 visas.

Step 5: Prepare materials

Depending on the type of visa, the materials will naturally be different. Generally speaking, your passport, completed DS form, and visa fee receipt. Note that some things cannot be brought in, including electronic products (such as mobile phones, USB flash drives, CDs), metal products (such as scissors), school bags, luggage, etc.

Step 6: Embassy interview

U.S. study visa: U.S. visa procedures

1) Make an appointment for a visa interview

a. Go to CITIC The bank purchases a prepaid encrypted phone card or logs on to the website of the Visa Information Call Center to purchase a password. The cost is RMB 54 for a 12-minute call or RMB 36 for an eight-minute call. Any unused minutes can be set aside for next use or transferred to someone else.

b. Call the Visa Information Call Center to make an appointment for a visa interview or ask visa questions. Please prepare the following information before calling: applicant's full name, passport number, ID number, contact information, purpose of visit to the United States, permanent residence in China, and whether a visa has been refused before, etc. All long-distance call charges incurred will be borne by the caller, and the call is usually connected within 30 seconds.

2) Fill in the visa application form

a. The English DS-156 electronic visa application form must be filled out online. After completing the form, please print out all pages (including the last page containing the barcode - Page 3) and submit them during the visa interview.

b. Other non-immigrant visa application forms can be downloaded from the embassy’s website or obtained for free from any branch of CITIC Bank.

c. Paste a 5 cm x 5 cm color photo on the English DS-156 form. The photo must be a frontal photo with a white background taken within 6 months. Click to see more about U.S. visa photo requirements.

3) Go for the visa interview

a. Please bring all visa supporting materials with you on the day of the interview. To find out what documents you need, check out the nonimmigrant visa categories. Non-applicants cannot accompany applicants into the visa hall. The only exception is that children under the age of 13 can be accompanied by an adult relative for the interview. Under certain special circumstances, disabled people can be accompanied by someone. Please fax the applicant's application and reasons for needing to be accompanied to 6532-3178.

b. After arriving at the corresponding embassy or consulate, please line up outside and wait for about 30 minutes before the appointment time.

c. Undergo security inspection—please do not bring any electronic products with you, including mobile phones. Also do not bring backpacks, suitcases, briefcases or strollers. Applicants can only bring documents related to their visa application.

d. Go to the designated window to submit the visa application form and materials, and then wait for the fingerprint scan and visa interview. The waiting time is approximately 2-3 hours.

e. If your visa application is approved, we will stamp the visa on your passport and mail the passport with the visa to you within five working days after the interview. If you need urgent service, you can also choose to pick up your visa at the China Post Office opened in the visa service hall run by the Chaoyang District Government (next to the entrance of the embassy visa section) on the second working day after the interview date. Certain special circumstances, such as the need for administrative review, supplementary supporting materials, or anti-counterfeiting investigations, may affect the processing speed of visa applications and delay the issuance of visas.

Legal basis:

"Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China"

Article 9 Chinese citizens shall apply for a passport in accordance with the law when leaving or entering the country. or other travel documents.

Chinese citizens traveling to other countries or regions also need to obtain a visa or other entry permit for the country of destination. However, this does not apply unless the Chinese government has signed a mutual visa exemption agreement with the governments of other countries or if the Ministry of Public Security or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides otherwise.

Chinese citizens who enter or exit the country as seafarers or work on foreign ships must apply for a seafarer's certificate in accordance with the law.