10-year visas to Chinese not suspended, says US

The US embassy in China said on 22 March that the visa program that lets Chinese visitors obtain 10-year visas has not been suspended by its government. This follows speculations that Trump Administration may terminate the program as a trade move against China.

The US Embassy spokesperson in China, speaking on terms of anonymity, was quoted by Global Times as saying in an email that the 10-year B1/B2 visas had not been changed or suspended and the US government’s procedures for screening and vetting of visitors are reviewed and tweaked regularly.

In the second week of March, media houses, including the Wall Street Journal, had reported that the US government was considering restricting the number of visas to Chinese who study or work in the US, and was mulling halting the visa program that allows people who travel frequently to obtain 10-year visas.

While B1 visas in the US are used by people who enter the US for business purposes, B2 visas are issued to visitors who visit the US for tourism purposes.

In November 2016, the US had mandated nationals of China holding B1, B2 and B1/B2 10-year visas to revise their biographical and other data through the Electronic Visa Update System from their visa application before visiting the US. Ecns.cn said that this had to be updated every two years, or once they get a new passport or B1, B2 and B1/B2 visas, whichever happens first.

If you are looking to travel to the US, get in touch with Y-Axis, the world’s no.1 immigration and visa consultancy, to apply for a visa.