Alerts from the Dept of State

[Randy W]

email alert from Americancitizensinchina@state.gov

search terms:
GuangzhouACS@state.gov
U.S. Consulate General

Americancitizensinchina@state.gov said:

Event: Exercise increased caution in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) due to arbitrary enforcement of local laws for purposes other than maintaining law and order. This arbitrary enforcement may include detention and the use of exit bans.

U.S. citizens may be detained without access to U.S. consular services or information about their alleged crime. U.S. citizens may be subjected to prolonged interrogations and extended detention for reasons related to “state security.” Security personnel may detain and/or deport U.S. citizens for sending private electronic messages critical of the PRC government.

If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy or the nearest consulate immediately. See the contact information for the Embassy and Consulates below for further information.

You are encouraged to visit travel.state.gov to view individual Travel Advisories for the most urgent threats to safety and security. Please also visit the website of the relevant U.S. embassy or consulate to see information on entry restrictions, foreign quarantine policies, and urgent health information provided by local governments.

Travelers are urged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. The Department uses these Alerts to convey information about terrorist threats, security incidents, planned demonstrations, natural disasters, etc. For emergency assistance, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate or call the following numbers: 1(888) 407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1 (202) 501-4444 from other countries or jurisdictions.

Edited March 29, 2022 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

https://www.facebook.com/9229303148/posts/10158908270098149/?substory_index=0

US Dept. of State: Consular Affairs on Facebook - https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html

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If you're thinking of applying for your passport, don’t forget that routine processing takes 10-12 weeks and expedited processing takes 4-6 weeks. Plan ahead for the future! http://ow.ly/6Vnp50CZIJy

These processing times apply to applications submitted by mail and in-person at an acceptance facility in your community. Most acceptance facilities such as post offices, clerks of court, and libraries are open and accepting passport applications. Apply by mail when possible because it is a safe, contactless option for certain services.
If you are applying for a U.S. passport outside the United States visit the U.S. embassy or consulate page for more information.

[Randy W]

The US Dept of State: Consular Affairs

https://www.facebook.com/9229303148/posts/10158914102508149/?substory_index=0

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ALERT: Be prepared! You may unexpectedly test positive for COVID-19 while overseas and be unable to fly home as planned. Before you travel, make sure you have medical travel insurance that covers you overseas and a financial plan if you have to extend your trip abroad.

[Randy W]

US Dept of State: Consular Affairs

Check COVID-19 Traveler Information to see . . .

https://www.facebook.com/9229303148/posts/10158919413028149/?substory_index=0

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ALERT: Thinking of traveling abroad? Plan ahead! Health restrictions are changing with little notice. Check http://ow.ly/pydX50D3Pxm to see if you need a negative COVID-19 test to board your flight and in what timeframe you need to have results before heading to the airport.

[Randy W]

Immigrant visa applicants who are eligible for interview will be scheduled for appointments according to our IV prioritization framework: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/immigrant-visa-prioritization.html

U.S. Dept. of State Consular Affairs
https://www.facebook.com/9229303148/posts/10159293765118149/?substory_index=0

[Randy W]

While we are prioritizing Immediate Relatives of U.S. citizens including IR/CR visas, adoptions, K1s, and certain SIVs, we also recognize the importance of employment based immigrants. IV applicants will be interviewed according to prioritization guidance: http://ow.ly/Bvg750F9Rbf

U.S. Dept. of State Consular Affairs
https://www.facebook.com/9229303148/posts/10159306228638149/?substory_index=0

[Randy W]

Applying for your passport? Routine service can take up to 6 weeks for mail and intake, and then up to 12 weeks to process it. This means that routine service can take up to 18 weeks from when the application is mailed to when a new passport is received. http://ow.ly/51Uw50Fginz

 U.S. Department of State: Consular Affairs
https://www.facebook.com/9229303148/posts/10159325168373149/?substory_index=0

12. What about customers overseas who need a passport?

For passport services abroad, please contact the U.S. embassy or consulate closest to you.

Edited June 23, 2021 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

On Dec 27, the cost for a passport book will increase by $20.  The increased fee is necessary to ensure we continue to produce one of the most secure travel and identity documents in the world.  For current passport fees, see: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/fees.html

from U.S. Department of State: Consular Affairs on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=283325830497141&set=a.227341039428954

Passport Fees

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Find your fee in one of three ways: the Fee Calculator, the Fee Chart PDF, or the Fee Charts below. Our fees listed on this page are for those applying for or renewing their passport in the United States and renewing by mail from Canada. If you need to apply for or renew your U.S. passport in another country, visit the webpage of the U.S. embassy or consulate in that country.

 

Edited December 21, 2021 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

from GuangzhouACS@state.gov Mon 2022-03-28 1:37 PM

It's not clear if this was a case of a belligerent foreigner, nor is there any indication of WHY a U.S. citizen was "verbally harassed and physically assaulted."

Location: Guangzhou, Guangdong Province

Event: The U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou has received a report that several individuals, including a uniformed security guard, verbally harassed and physically assaulted a U.S. citizen on March 14 at a temporary COVID testing center located at the Zhongshan Residential Community Center on Jinyang 1st Street in Yuexiu District, Guangzhou.

As local authorities strengthen testing requirements, and with the COVID situation remaining uncertain, the U.S. Consulate General advises U.S. citizens to remain aware of and comply with local COVID control measures and to consider going to established medical facilities for COVID testing and to exercise caution when testing at temporary facilities. 

If you believe that you are experiencing discriminatory harassment or abuse by private or public institutions based on your nationality, race, religion, gender, and/or sexual identity, you may report it by calling the police by dialing 110. 

If you choose to report, identify yourself as a U.S. citizen and ask for an English-speaking officer, if needed, then report the discriminatory harassment or abuse you are experiencing and ask them to respond.  Do not leave the scene unless you feel you are in danger, because police might not respond if the aggrieved person departs.  After reporting the incident, please contact the American Citizens Services Unit, using the contact information below, to inform us of the circumstances and resolution.  The U.S. Consulate General continues to track these incidents and bring them to the attention of the authorities as citizens request and circumstances warrant.  

Edited March 29, 2022 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

Traveling soon? The U.S. Embassy website for your travel destination will have the most up-to-date information about COVID-19 requirements. To find the Embassy website for where you are traveling check out travel.state.gov/countrycovidinfo.

from U.S. Department of State: Consular Affairs on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=388044476691942&set=a.227341039428954

COVID-19 Country Specific Information

COVID-19 Country Information

Please select from the list below for specific information related to COVID-19 in that country.

Last updated: [6/2/2022]

 

Beijing Virtual Town Hall Key Information: U.S. Embassy Beijing hosted two Virtual Town Halls for U.S. Citizens in the Beijing consular district on May 4 and 5, 2022, to provide information on the developing COVID-19 health control measures situation.  Click here for a summary of key topics covered.

 

The government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has issued new requirements—updated on May 17, 2022—regarding travel from the United States to Mainland China.  Please see the PRC Embassy website  for more information.

Event:  On December 6, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will implement a one-day COVID-19 testing requirement for travelers over age two coming to the United States.  Regardless of vaccination status or nationality, any individual coming to the United States must show a negative pre-departure COVID-19 viral test taken the day before they board their flight to the United States.  You must show your negative result to the airline before you board your flight.

If you recently recovered from COVID-19, you may instead travel with documentation of recovery from COVID-19 (i.e., your positive COVID-19 viral test result on a sample taken no more than 90 days before the flight’s departure from a foreign country, and a letter from a licensed healthcare provider or a public health official stating that you were cleared to travel).

These requirements are for all air passengers two years of age or older boarding a flight from a foreign country to the United States.

[Randy W]

We are committed to lowering worldwide visa appointment wait times. We’ve doubled consular officer hiring this year from last year & newly trained staff are making their way overseas.

Find your country’s wait times here: http://ow.ly/u2Fl50KIaFm

from U.S. Department of State: Consular Affairs on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=455724006590655&set=a.227341039428954

[Randy W]

Message for U.S. Citizens: Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT) Offered at the U.S. Consulate General Shanghai, China

The U.S. Consulate General Shanghai is pleased to announce that the Foreign Service Officer Test will be administered at the Consulate on the following dates and times:  

Saturday, October 1, 2022                9:00 AM – 12:00 PM  

Saturday, October 1, 2022                1:00 PM – 4:00 PM   

Seats are limited.  Registration for the test is currently open and closes on Thursday, September 29, 2022. We recommend that interested applicants familiarize themselves with the process prior to registering for the test.  

All interested applicants must register on the Pearson VUE website at https://home.pearsonvue.com/fsot.  To be eligible, you must be a U.S. citizen between ages 20 and 59. 

For more information about a rewarding career in the Foreign Service, please visit https://careers.state.gov/ 

Disclaimer: Testing in China is complicated due to unreliable connections to the Pearson VUE system. Consulate Shanghai will seek to minimize potential technical problems, but test takers may encounter problems during the exam due to Chinese telecom restrictions. The Consulate is not responsible for problems during the exam due to network connectivity issues.

 

 

[Randy W]

Message for U.S. Citizens: Get Your New U.S. Passport by Mail and Save a Trip; Pay.gov and DS-82 Online Adult Passport Renewals

Message for U.S. Citizens: 

 March 6, 2023 

Did you know you can renew your U.S. passport without having to visit a consulate?  Adult U.S. citizens living in the People’s Republic of China can pay for their DS-82 applications online and receive new passports through the mail.  This pilot program is open to applicants who are eligible to use form DS-82 and who live in the PRC (except for Hong Kong and Macau).  Payments may be submitted using U.S. or international credit and debit cards, electronic funds transfers from U.S.-based bank accounts, Amazon Pay, or Pay Pal.  

More information on the ongoing pilot program can be found here: https://china.usembassy-china.org.cn/passports/.

 

Adult Passport Renewal (DS-82)

 DS-82 form . 

[Randy W]

Passengers are routinely denied entry or run into legal issues for packing items not allowed at their destination, including vaping, CBD, and THC products. Check the local laws & special circumstances for your destination at travel.state.gov/destination. #TravelSmartFromTheStart

from the U.S. Depth. of State Consular Affairs on Facebook 
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=608670134629374&set=a.227341039428954

 

 

Passengers are routinely denied entry or run into legal issues for packing items not allowed at their destination,...

Posted by U.S. Department of State: Consular Affairs on Friday, April 21, 2023

 

Follow the link to get the information about China:

Reissued with updates to COVID-19 information.

Reconsider travel to the People’s Republic of China (PRC), including the Special Administrative Regions (SARs) of Hong Kong and Macau due to arbitrary enforcement of local laws. See specific risks and conditions in each jurisdiction below.  Commercial transportation options for international departure and arrival are available. Exercise increased caution in the PRC due to wrongful detentions.

Country Summary: The PRC government arbitrarily enforces local laws, including issuing exit bans on U.S. citizens and citizens of other countries without fair and transparent process under the law.

The Department has determined the risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals by the PRC government exists in mainland China.

U.S. citizens traveling or residing in the PRC, including the Hong Kong SAR and the Macau SAR, may be detained without access to U.S. consular services or information about their alleged crime. U.S. citizens in the PRC may be subjected to prolonged interrogations and extended detention without due process of law.

Foreigners in the PRC and the Hong Kong SAR, including but not limited to businesspeople, former foreign government personnel, and journalists have been unjustly interrogated and detained by PRC officials for alleged violations of PRC national security laws. The PRC has also interrogated, detained, and expelled U.S. citizens living and working in the PRC.

Security personnel may detain and/or deport U.S. citizens for sending private electronic messages critical of the PRC, Hong Kong SAR, or Macau SAR governments.

In addition, the PRC government has used restrictions on travel or departure from the PRC, or so-called exit bans, to:

• compel individuals to participate in PRC government investigations,
• pressure family members of the restricted individual to return to the PRC from abroad,
• resolve civil disputes in favor of PRC citizens, and
• gain bargaining leverage over foreign governments.

In most cases, U.S. citizens only become aware of an exit ban when they attempt to depart the PRC, and there is no reliable mechanism or legal process to find out how long the ban might continue or to contest it in a court of law.  Relatives, including minor children, of those under investigation in the PRC may become subject to an exit ban.

The PRC, Hong Kong SAR, and Macau SAR governments do not recognize dual nationality.  U.S.-PRC citizens and U.S. citizens of Chinese descent may be subject to additional scrutiny and harassment, and the PRC, Hong Kong SAR, and Macau SAR governments may prevent the U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate General from providing consular services.

Check with the PRC Embassy in the United States for the most updated information on travel to the PRC. In some limited circumstances travelers to mainland China may face additional testing requirements to enter some facilities or events.

The Department of State does not provide or coordinate direct medical care to private U.S. citizens abroad. U.S. citizens overseas may receive PRC-approved COVID vaccine doses where they are eligible.

The PRC government has not authorized for general use in mainland China many COVID vaccines commonly available in the United States and Europe, including AstraZeneca, Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson products. It has conditionally authorized thirteen PRC-made vaccines; these are available to anyone residing in China. The FDA has not approved the two most commonly available, Sinopharm and Sinovac. Sinopharm and Sinovac have received approval for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO).

In Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR, BioNTech mRNA COVID vaccines including the bivalent option are available. Please contact local health authorities for information on available vaccines.

Visit the FDA’s website to learn more about FDA-approved vaccines in the United States.

XINJIANG UYGHUR AUTONOMOUS REGION and TIBET AUTONOMOUS REGION

Extra security measures, such as security checks and increased levels of police presence, are common in the Xinjiang Uyghur and Tibet Autonomous Regions. Authorities may impose curfews and travel restrictions on short notice.

HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

Since the imposition of the National Security Law on June 30, 2020, the PRC unilaterally and arbitrarily exercises police and security power in the Hong Kong SAR. The PRC has demonstrated an intent to use this authority to target a broad range of activities it defines as acts of secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign entities. The National Security Law also covers offenses committed by non-Hong Kong residents or organizations outside of Hong Kong, which could subject U.S. citizens who have been publicly critical of the PRC to a heightened risk of arrest, detention, expulsion, or prosecution. PRC security forces, including the new Office for Safeguarding National Security, now operate in the Hong Kong SAR and are not subject to oversight by the Hong Kong judiciary.

Demonstrations: Participating in demonstrations or any other activities that authorities interpret as constituting an act of secession, subversion, terrorism, or collusion with a foreign country could result in criminal charges. U.S. citizens are strongly cautioned to be aware of their surroundings and avoid demonstrations.

Propaganda: A PRC propaganda campaign has falsely accused individuals, including U.S. citizens, of fomenting unrest in the Hong Kong SAR. In some cases, the campaign has published their personal information, resulting in threats of violence on social media.

Read the country information page for the PRC, the information page for the Hong Kong SAR, and the information page for the Macau SAR for additional information on travel.

If you decide to travel to the PRC, including the Hong Kong SAR and the Macau SAR:

• Read the Department of State’s COVID-19 page before planning any international travel, read the Embassy COVID-19 page for the PRC and the Consulate General COVID-19 page for the Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR for specific COVID-19 information.
• For the Hong Kong SAR, monitor local media, local transportations sites, and apps like MTR Mobile or CitybusNWFB, and the Hong Kong International Airport website for updates.
• Avoid demonstrations.
• Exercise caution in the vicinity of large gatherings or protests.
• Avoid taking photographs of protesters or police without permission.
• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Keep a low profile.
• For the Hong Kong SAR, review your Hong Kong flight status with your airline or at the Hong Kong International Airport website.
• Enter the PRC on your U.S. passport with a valid PRC visa and keep it with you.
• If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy or the nearest consulate immediately.
• If you plan to enter the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), read the DPRK Travel Advisory. Travelers should note that U.S. passports are not valid for travel to, in, or through the DPRK, unless they are specially validated by the Department of State.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter. Follow the U.S. Embassy on Twitter, WeChat, and Weibo. Follow the U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong and Macau on Facebook and Twitter.
• Review the Country Security Report for the PRC, the Hong Kong SAR, and the Macau SAR.
• Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.

 

Edited April 22, 2023 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

It Seems Like Now Is Not The Ideal Time To Need To Renew Your Passport
You may want to do it even further in advance of travel than you think.

from Jalopnic - dated July 3, 2023

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Because of so-called “revenge travel” — the idea that all of us have been cooped up for too long because of the pandemic and, you know, it sure would be nice to see the world before we die — passport applications and renewals have surged to around half-a-million passport applications per week, according to the AP, and the State Department thinks that for 2023 it will issue more than the 22 million passports it issued last year.

That has led to long waits for passports, which the government has said are due to worker shortages, and also the lingering effects of restarting processes that largely stalled early in the pandemic, when no one was going much of anywhere and the demand for passports was low.

At any rate, as documented by the AP, there are travelers that have unknowingly risked their trips so you don’t have to. Take this poor traveler: . . .

 

 

Edited July 5, 2023 by Randy W (see edit history)