Message to U.S. Citizens

[Randy W]

Message to U.S. Citizens:  U.S. Embassy Beijing (June 4, 2021)

Location:  China

Event:  U.S. citizens may directly return to the United States with certain expired U.S. passports.*

 

If you are overseas and your passport expired on or after January 1, 2020, you may be able to use your expired passport to return directly to the United States until December 31, 2021.

 

You qualify for this exception if all the following are true:

• You are a U.S. citizen.
• You are currently abroad seeking direct return to the United States.
• You are flying directly to the United States, a United States territory, or have only short-term transit (“connecting flights”) through a foreign country on your direct return to the United States or to a United States Territory.
• Your expired passport was originally valid for 10 years.  Or, if you were 15 years of age or younger when the passport was issued, your expired passport was valid for 5 years.
• Your expired passport is undamaged.
• Your expired passport is unaltered.
• Your expired passport is in your possession. 

You do not qualify for this exception if: 

• You wish to depart from the United States to an international destination.
• You are currently abroad seeking to travel to a foreign country for any length of stay longer than an airport connection en route to the United States or to a United States territory.
•      Your expired passport was limited in validity.
•      Your expired passport is a special issuance passport (such as a diplomatic, official, service, or no-fee regular passport).
•      Your expired passport is damaged.
•      Your expired passport is altered.
•      Your expired passport is not in your possession.

*Please note that Chinese law requires that you depart China on the same country’s passport used when entering, along with a valid visa at the time of departure. U.S. citizens who originally entered China on a U.S. passport must have a valid Chinese visa to exit the country.

   

Please be advised that currently, routine passport processing in the United States can take 10-12 weeks.  If you need a passport in less than 10-12 weeks due to international travel plans, you can pay an additional $60 fee to expedite your passport, which will shorten the processing time to 4-6 weeks.

Appointments for passport services are readily available at the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in China.  Visit here for more information about passport services and to make an appointment.  

If your U.S. passport expired on or before December 31, 2019, please see our website for information on how to renew your passport before traveling.

Actions to Take: 

• All U.S. citizens should enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and ensure you can be located in an emergency.
• Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for information on conditions in China.
• Refer to our website for the latest Alerts and Messages for U.S. citizens
• Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date information related to COVID-19.
• For the most recent information on what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19, please see the CDC’s latest recommendations.
• Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for the latest information.
• Check with your airlines, cruise lines, or travel operators regarding any updated information about your travel plans and/or restrictions.
• Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the United States.

[Randy W]

Health Alert – U.S. Mission in China, Beijing (November 9, 2022)

Location:  Countrywide

Event:  The quickly changing COVID-19 situation and significant “zero-COVID” policy restrictions around the People’s Republic of China (PRC)

COVID-19 cases in the PRC continue to proliferate in different areas and the PRC continues to enforce strict COVID-19 testing, quarantine, and travel restrictions throughout the country. These enforcement measures may cause interruptions in the supply of food, water, medicine, and other essentials. Private U.S. citizens who test positive for COVID-19 upon arrival into the PRC will not have an opportunity to depart before being placed in a Chinese COVID-19 quarantine facility. Within the PRC, travel between cities and provinces remains extremely difficult and regulations and requirements change frequently. You may be required to remain within your residence for extended periods of time without prior notice and local health officials may enter your residence to disinfect it. The ability to depart the PRC is limited and expensive. If you have particular needs or concerns, the U.S. Embassy advises you to postpone travel to and within the PRC. 

The U.S. Embassy and Consulates have extremely limited ability to intervene on behalf of private U.S. citizens on issues related to the implementation of the PRC’s "zero-COVID" policy.  Private U.S. citizens may be taken to centralized quarantine centers or hospitals that may be crowded, unsanitary, and uncomfortable. Citizens should be aware that the cost of mandatory COVID-related quarantine and/or hospitalization must be paid by the individual, generally prior to discharge from the institution.

If you encounter difficulties, you can contact your local community’s office or the local community office where you are located.  As a secondary measure, your local authorities and/or employer may also be able to help.  You may also consider contacting the local Foreign Affairs Office (waiban) at affiliated employers, universities, and other organizations.  If you are concerned about language issues, contacting them via WeChat may be more effective than attempting to call.          

The U.S. Embassy in Beijing and the U.S. Consulates in Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenyang continue to provide both emergency and routine services for U.S. citizens.  The U.S. Consulate in Wuhan can provide limited U.S. citizen services only.

The U.S. Mission in China encourages all qualified adult U.S. citizens to renew their passports by mail to avoid potential travel and quarantine risks.  Please see the following link for more information: https://china.usembassy-china.org.cn/passports/. For the most up-to-date CDC guidelines for travelers to the United States, please visit the CDC website at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international-travel-during-covid19.html.  Please note: the PRC may have its own COVID-related exit requirements.

Actions to Take:

·         Prepare to remain within your residence for an extended period.

·         Ensure you have a sufficient supply of money, medication, food, water, and relevant supplies for your family and pets in the event of sudden restrictions or extended quarantine.

·         Follow the instructions of your local health authorities and local neighborhood committees.

·         If you wish to depart the PRC, book tickets early.  Commercial flights remain available but are limited and expensive.

·         Ensure all necessary documents are accessible and up to date, including U.S. and PRC travel and identity documents. To renew your U.S. passport, please visit our Passport Services website for information and instructions on how to apply.

·         Contact your loved ones and share regular updates.  Family and friends will be concerned about your well-being, so contact them however possible – via phone, text, social media, etc. – to let them know you are safe.  Text and data services may work when voice does not.

·         Encourage your neighbors and friends to register in the free Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get the most up-to-date security information from the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in the PRC.

·         Visit the Department of State’s China Country Information webpage for the latest travel conditions.

·         Visit Embassy Beijing’s COVID-19 Information Page for the latest COVID-19 related information.

·         Contact your local neighborhood committee or employer for assistance with obtaining food delivery or bulk ordering.  Food deliveries may be delayed and the supply of certain items limited.