HOW TO APPLY

CITIC Bank Dropbox Application Process

NOTICE:

All dropbox applications must be submitted and picked up at select CITIC Bank branch locations.

CITIC Bank Dropbox

CITIC bank accepts dropbox visa applications in Guangzhou on behalf of the United States Consulate General in Guangzhou. An applicant seeking to renew a visa may drop off the visa application at participating branches of CITIC Industrial Bank so long as the previous visa is currently valid or has been expired for less than twelve months, and he is applying for the same type of visa. The types of visa categories eligible for this service are in the chart below.

 

Visa Type

B1, B2, B1/B2 Temporary visitors for business or pleasure

F1, F2 Students, their spouses and children under age 21

J1, J2 Exchange visitors, their spouses and children under age 21

H1B, H4 Temporary workers, their spouses and children under age 21

L Intra-company transferees

C1 Alien in Transit

D Crew Member

M1, M2 Vocational/Technical Student

O Aliens with extraordinary ability

P Athletes, artists, and entertainers

The most recent used visa must be a full validity visa. An applicant must not have been refused a U.S. visa since the last visa was issued. If an applicant has used the visa to enter the United States, he must not have exceeded the stay in the United States authorized by the DHS. For B1, B2, or B1/B2 applicants, each of the applicant’s stays using the most recent visa must not have exceeded 6 weeks. An applicant seeking to renew F, J and H visas must be returning to the same school, institution or workplace as was indicated on their previous visa application. In order to use the drop box, the applicant’s most recent visa must have also been issued in Guangzhou. All first-time applicants must apply in person at the Consulate and cannot use the dropbox. Dropbox applicants should drop off and pick up their passports at select CITIC Bank branch locations rather than at the Consulate. CITIC charges a fee for this service in addition to the regular visa application fee.

 

Each dropbox applicant must submit the following:

1) A valid passport with at least 6 months validity

2) If the last U.S. visa was not issued in the current passport, then the old passport that contains your original visa must be submitted.

3) One set of completed DS-156 & DS-157 (and for F, J or M visa applications, also include the DS-158) application forms with two recent American passport photos attached.

4) A valid application fee receipt from CITIC Bank.

NOTE: Applicants may not apply for a new visa classification via the dropbox. For example, a person who previously traveled to the U.S. on a tourist (B2) visa cannot apply for a student (F1) or work (H1) visa using the dropbox. Such an applicant must appear for an interview with a consular officer. However, students may renew their F1 visas using the dropbox provided they are returning to their original American school to continue their studies. Students should submit their original I-20 form with their dropbox application. Work (H1) visas may also be renewed with the dropbox provided the applicant is returning to the same employer and can submit the original I-797.  J1 visas can be renewed by submitting the original DS-2019.

CITIC Bank employees are unable to answer questions about interviews and requirements for U.S. visas.

If you have additional questions about the dropbox, please call the Visa Information Call Center 4008-872-333 (For caller in Mainland China) or
86-21-3881-4611 (For caller outside Mainland China)*.

* The Department of State wishes to advise callers that the charges for international calls are solely the responsibility of the caller. Currently, callers are experiencing significant wait times before reaching a live operator.

 

Effective June 1, 2008, Application Procedures for Applicants under 14 or 80 and over years of age

 

Important Note:
Applicants renewing their visas who have provided all 10 fingerprints to the Consulate may be exempt from fingerprinting.  Applicants who meet all of the following criteria are not required to come in for fingerprinting:

1. The applicant has come to the Consulate for fingerprinting on or after November 15, 2007;
2. The applicant provided all 10 fingerprints (see example below).
3. The applicant is applying for the same visa class.

Applicants who do not meet the above criteria must come into the Consulate to be fingerprinted.  Applicants must bring their CITIC bank receipts for admission to the Consular Section. The use of the drop off service does not guarantee visa issuance. Incomplete and/or inaccurate applications will be returned to the China CITIC Bank and the applicant will be required to appear for a visa interview at the Embassy or Consulate.