Recent Change in Nonimmigration Visa

[Guest Long_strider]

I'm a member of a list service put out by the US government on China issues. Received this today.

 

Long-Strider

 

 

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Chinese Travelers Eligible for Longer Stays in the United States Visas valid for 12 months, multiple entries

 

Beginning January 15, eligible Chinese tourists and business travelers will be able to get U.S. visas that are valid for 12 months and multiple entries, the State Department announced January 12.

 

On a reciprocal basis, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has agreed to issue visas valid for 12 months and multiple entries to U.S. citizens visiting China on temporary business and tourism.

 

Previously, U.S. visas for Chinese were limited to terms of six months.

 

Last year, U.S. officials in China issued 228,600 nonimmigrant visas. More than 77 percent were business (B-1) or tourism (B-2).

 

Following is the State Department media note:

 

(begin text)

 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Office of the Spokesman

January 12, 2005

 

MEDIA NOTE

 

U.S. Extends Visa Validity for Chinese Tourist and Business Travelers

 

Beginning January 15, 2005, eligible Chinese nationals who wish to visit the United States temporarily for business (B-1) or tourism (B-2) will be issued visas that are valid for 12 months and multiple entries. The previous maximum validity for U.S. visas issued for these purposes was six months and for multiple entries.

 

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also agreed to reciprocally issue to U.S. citizens visiting China on temporary business and tourism visas valid for 12 months and multiple entries.

 

The U.S. Embassy in Beijing and the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs exchanged diplomatic notes on this agreement in December 2004. While the United States and China will in principle issue maximum validity visas to each other's citizens, on a case-by-case basis, each side may limit the period of validity and number of entries as required by law and regulation.

 

The mutual extension of visa reciprocity will be a significant benefit to business and tourist travelers between China and the United States. Frequent American citizen travelers to China will save time and money with longer visa validity. Frequent Chinese travelers receiving longer validity visas will need to visit the U.S. Embassy or Consulates in China less often to renew visas, freeing embassy and consulate resources to adjudicate other visa applications more quickly.

 

In 2004, the U.S. Embassy and the four U.S. consulates in China issued 228,600 nonimmigrant visas. Of these, 173,140, or more than 77 percent, were temporary visas for business (B-1) or tourism (B-2).

 

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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

 

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[yyp]

On a reciprocal basis, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has agreed to issue visas valid for 12 months and multiple entries to U.S. citizens visiting China on temporary business and tourism.

 

This is interesting.....in that China is offering a 12 month tourist visas on a "reciprocal basis."

 

My current tourist visa is valid for 12 months, from January 2004. Previously I had asked for a 12 month visa but they would only grant me a 6 month...then after the 6 month visa they issued me a 12 month multiple entry visa.

 

So now we have been reciprocated with a policy that was already in effect.

 

Go figure how the wheels turn…..

[johns]

Lets hope China relaxes the law about USC with the absoute highest business or tourist visa price

For example

 

In Hong Kong

 

My british friend only pays about 500 HK$ for a 6 month muliple entry visa for China mainland

 

While I have to pay 1050$hk for the same visa and have to leave the mainland every 30 days.

 

 

 

 

[Mengxin]

I subscribe to that too. Good stuff in there, most of the time.