Simplifying non-immigrant visa processing procedures, Locke announces new plan (picture)

Simplifying non-immigrant visa processing procedures, Locke announces new plan (picture) Core tip: Locke announced in Beijing on the afternoon of February 9 that starting from February 13, the U.S. Embassy in China...

Core tip: Locke announced in Beijing on the afternoon of February 9 that starting from February 13, the U.S. Mission in China will begin to implement a pilot plan to simplify visa processing procedures. If some qualified non-immigrant visa applicants renew their visa within 48 months (i.e. 4 years) of expiration, and the visa type is the same as last time, they can be renewed without an interview.

U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke announced in Beijing on the afternoon of February 9 that starting from February 13, the U.S. Mission in China will begin implementing a pilot plan to simplify visa processing procedures. If some qualified non-immigrant visa applicants renew their visa within 48 months (i.e. 4 years) of expiration, and the visa type is the same as last time, they can be renewed without an interview.

According to reports, in China, the plan will involve people who have previously held B (temporary business and tourist visitors), C1 (transit), D (crew, crew members), F (students), J (exchange visits), M (non-academic students) and O (special talents) visas.

This new initiative will also benefit first-time visa applicants, providing them with up to 100,000 additional interview opportunities within one year. However, Locke also pointed out that U.S. consular officials still have the authority to interview any applicant they determine needs to be interviewed in person.

In addition, Locke also introduced the new work done by the US Mission in China to strengthen consular services. To meet growing demand in 2012 and beyond, the United States is sending 50 new consular officers to China and will reopen the former U.S. Embassy consular facility in Beijing's First Diplomatic District within months. "Reopening this facility will increase our interview capacity in Beijing by 50%," said Ambassador Locke.

The U.S. Mission in China also opened new consular facilities in Guangzhou and Shanghai to expand its visa processing capacity.

Ambassador Locke said: "Travel to the United States will promote a better understanding between our two cultures and peoples. We welcome the challenges that come with meeting the explosive growth in demand for our visas."

In 2011, U.S. embassies and consulates processed more than 1 million visa applications in China, a 34% increase from the previous year. In the first few months of fiscal year 2012, the number of visas processed by U.S. embassies and consulates in China increased by 48% compared with the same period in 2011. At the same time, the U.S. embassy and consulates in China have significantly reduced waiting times for interviews in China. As of February 8, the waiting time for interviews at the embassy and consulates in China was less than 6 days.

On January 19, 2012, U.S. President Obama signed an executive order to promote the development of U.S. tourism, including ordering the U.S. Department of State and Department of Homeland Security to simplify and accelerate the application process for non-immigrant visas. The goal in China is to increase China's visa processing capacity by 40% in 2012.