New Interview Waiver Pilot Program in China (Extract)

Interview Waiver Pilot Program
On February 13, Mission China will launch a pilot program to streamline visa processing by permitting consular officers to waive interviews for some qualified nonimmigrant applicants worldwide who are renewing their visa within 48 months (four years) of the expiration of their previously held visa, and within the same classification as the previous visa. In China, previous holders of B (temporary visitors for business/pleasure), C-1 (transit), D (crewmembers), F (students), J (exchange visitors), M (nonacademic students), and O (visitors with extraordinary ability) visas can renew their visas if they have been expired less than 48 months (four years).

Over the course of the year, this policy could open as many as 100,000 interview appointments for Chinese travelers applying for visas for the first time.

Our partners at CITIC Bank are aware of the new procedures. Applicants who qualify for interview waiver under the new guidelines can follow existing procedures to renew their visas.

Protecting our borders and national security remains the U.S. government’s highest priority. As always, with this renewal program, some applicants who apply to renew their visa without an interview will be called in for an interview for both security and quality control reasons.

Opening an Additional Visa Processing Location in Beijing
Later this year, we will reopen our former Embassy consular facility located in the first Diplomatic Neighborhood of Beijing.

We anticipate that reopening this facility will increase our interviewing capacity in Beijing by 50%, as many as 150,000 visas.

Economic Impact
Encouraging increased travel between China and the United States is mutually beneficial. Not only do we learn more about each other’s culture and society, but increased tourism is good for our economies.

In 2010, more than 800,000 Chinese nationals traveled to the United States, each spending an average of $6,000 per trip. The Department of Commerce expects the number of first-time Chinese travelers to the United States to triple in the next five years.

For full version of the program introduction please see: http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/20120209amb-visa.html

New Drop-off Visa Service Procedures
The U.S. Consulate Guangzhou offers a drop-off visa service in order to expedite the visa application process. In most cases, using this service eliminates the need to come to the Consulate for an interview. Like an interview, however, the use of the drop-off service does not guarantee visa issuance. Further, the Consulate may, in some cases, after reviewing an application submitted through the drop-off service, require a person to appear at the Consulate for an in-person interview.

Qualifications for Drop-off Visa Service
Two categories of applicants may qualify to use the drop-off visa service:
(1). applicants under the age of 14 or over the age of 79; and
(2) applicants who have already obtained a U.S. visa that expired within the last 48 months.
Please see below for further details regarding requirements for these two categories. The Embassy or Consulate may in some cases, after reviewing such an application, require an applicant to appear in person for a visa interview. Due to increasing demand for visa interview appointments, we strongly encourage visa applicants who are eligible for our drop box system to take advantage of this service.

Age Qualifications
Children under 14 who have at least one parent who holds a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa may apply through the drop-off service. Please include with the application a copy of the child’s birth certificate or family hukou registration book, as well as a copy of the parent’s passport and a copy of the parent’s valid non-immigrant visa. If both parents have a visa, please include with the application evidence of both parents’ visas. Please note, if a parent or parents are applying in-person for a visa at the Consulate, not through the drop-off service, the parent(s) may bring in the child's application at the time of their interview and apply on the child's behalf.
Applicants who are 80 years old or older, and either
(1) have not been previously found ineligible for a U.S. visa, or
(2) have been issued a valid U.S. visa that will expire less than 48 months from the date of renewal may apply through the drop-off service.
 

Past U.S. Travel Qualifications
Repeat travelers to the United States may qualify to use the Drop-off Visa Renewal Service to renew their visas. This process allows qualifying applicants to apply for a new visa by submitting their visa application via authorized providers. Using the service may eliminate the need to come to your nearest Embassy or Consulate. The use of the drop-off service does not guarantee visa issuance.

Applicants may drop-off their visa application at any of the approved drop-off service providers, if they meet the following requirements:
FOR ALL APPLICANTS
(1). You must be physically present in China.
(2). Your previous visa was a B (temporary visitor for business/pleasure); C-1 (transit); D (crewmembers); F (students); J (exchange visitors); M (nonacademic students) or; O (visitors with extraordinary abilities).
(3). Your previous visa must be currently valid or must have expired within the last 48 months.
(4). You must be applying for the exact same type of visa. You must have provided all 10 fingerprints during a previous visa interview.
Note: The U.S. Embassy and Consulates did not start collecting 10 fingerprints until November 15, 2007. If your previous visa was issued before that date you may not have submitted 10 fingerprints, and are not eligible for this program.

Applicants renewing F-1 visas whose previous visas include an annotation "clearance received" and whose visas expired less than 3 years ago should apply through the drop box. To use the drop box, F-1 visa applicants must plan to continue attending a U.S. school or institution in which they are already enrolled.

Applicants renewing other eligible visa classes whose previous visas have the "clearance received" annotation should schedule an appointment to apply in person.

Applicants renewing J-1 visas may use the drop box if they are continuing in an exchange program in which they are already participating.

Procedures for Drop-off Visa Service
Step 1: Select a Drop-off Visa Service Provider
Step 2: Include Essential Documentation
All applicants needs following documentations: valid passport, the DS-160 application form confirmation page, photograph, original bank receipt for visa application fee. For more details of these documentations and documentations for those specific applicants please see http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/drop-off-service.html