Apply for a U.S. Visa

U.S. Consulate Shenyang has resumed H/L visa services and appointments are now available for selection.

On March 10, 2023, CDC removed the requirement for air passengers from the People’s Republic of China, including Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR, to show a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of recovery before boarding a flight to the United States. CDC’s order requiring proof of vaccination for non-citizen nonimmigrants to travel to the United States is still in effect. Visit the CDC Website for additional information.

Please note that starting March 3, 2023, the processing of Interview Waiver (IW) applications in mainland China will no longer be centralized in Guangzhou. Your application will be delivered to the Embassy / Consulate that services your consular district. To save time and prevent delays, be sure to select the correct post location when you fill out your DS-160 application form online. Please refer to the list below for the U.S. Embassy and Consulates, and their respective consular districts, in mainland China. For example, if you are in Yunnan province, please select “China, Beijing” as the location on your DS-160 application form.

Effective January 18, 2023, applicants in Mainland China can pick up their passport and submit their documents (221(g) documents, Interview Waiver Application) at the following 4 CITIC locations for free:

• Beijing - 1F, Bldg E, No 8, Fuhua Mansion, Chaoyangmen North Street, Beijing
• Guangzhou - 1, 2 Floor, CITIC Plaza, 233 North Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong
• Shanghai - Pacific Plaza, GF, No 1168 Nanjing West Rd, Shanghai
• Shenyang - Nanhu branch, No.50, Cai Ta Street, He Ping District, Shenyang, Liaoning

Applicants can select any other CITIC pickup / drop-off locations against a fee of RMB 77 to be paid at the counter when picking up/ dropping of their documents (221(g) documents, Interview Waiver Application). EMS Premium home delivery remains available against a fee of RMB 106 per passport, regardless of visa type or destination, to be paid on delivery to the EMS courier.

All nonimmigrant visa application fee (also known as the MRV fee) payments made on or after October 1, 2022, are valid for 365 days from the date a receipt is issued for payment of the MRV fee.  Applicants must schedule an interview appointment or submit an interview waiver application during this 365-day period.  Please note applicants must only schedule their interview or submit their waiver application within the 365-day period.  There is no requirement the interview must occur during the 365-day period.  All receipts for payment of MRV fees issued before October 1, 2022, were extended until September 30, 2023, and remain valid until this date.

Select here to learn more about certain individual petition-based visa applicants who are now eligible for waiver of interview.

As of April 9, 2021, U.S. Consulate General Guangzhou Immigrant Visa Unit has resumed processing of fiance(e) and immigrant visa applications.  If you are an immigrant visa applicant and have received an appointment letter, please follow the instructions provided.  If you are an immigrant visa applicant who had an appointment originally scheduled January-March 2020, the IV unit will contact you to reschedule your appointment.  Please direct any questions to the U.S. Consulate General Guangzhou Immigrant Visa Unit webform at https://china.usembassy-china.org.cn/visas/immigrant-visas/immigrant-visa-unit-question/.

Please note that you must wear a face mask and follow social distancing instructions when visiting U.S. Embassy Beijing and the U.S. Consulates in Guangzhou, Shanghai and Shenyang. If you are feeling ‎ill or have been exposed to COVID-19, please do not enter U.S. Embassy or Consulate buildings and reschedule your appointment.

Secretary Blinken, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, has temporarily expanded the ability of consular officers to waive the in-person interview requirement for individuals applying for a nonimmigrant visa in the same classification. Previously, only those applicants whose nonimmigrant visa expired within 24 months were eligible for an interview waiver. The Secretary has temporarily extended the expiration period to 48 months. This change will allow consular officers to continue processing certain nonimmigrant visa applications while limiting the number of applicants who must appear at a consular section, thereby reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission to other applicants and consular staff. Travelers are encouraged to review the website of the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for detailed information on what services are currently available as well as eligibility information and instructions on applying for a visa without an interview.

All consular services provided at U.S. Consulate General Chengdu, China have been suspended until further notice and all scheduled visa appointments have been canceled. All visa applications that were in-process there prior to the suspension of services were sent to the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. Please contact the visa call center for further instructions. For any applicant who has not interviewed yet but paid a MRV visa application fee for an appointment in Chengdu, please follow the instructions online to schedule an appointment at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing or one of the other U.S. Consulates in China.