General Information

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

Effective June 1, 2008, certain applicants under 14 and all applicants over 80 years of age who would normally apply in Guangzhou can courier their nonimmigrant visa applications to the visa unit through China CITIC Bank, without the need to apply in person. 

Children under 14
Children under 14 are not required to personally visit the U.S. Consulate to apply for a nonimmigrant visa, and the consulate strongly discourages parent(s) and guardian(s) from bringing children to visa interviews. 

1.  Renewing or Reapplying for a visa for a child under 14
If a child has previously held a U.S. nonimmigrant visa, that child may apply through the courier service (see procedures below).  

2.  First-time applications for a child under 14
Children under 14 who are first-time applicants for a U.S. visa may not apply through the courier service.  Instead, an adult must represent the child at interview: 

a. If the child is applying alone, a parent/guardian should make an interview appointment in the child’s name, and should personally appear for interview on the child’s behalf (the child should not attend the interview).  Only one parent or guardian may attend the interview for the child.  The parent or guardian should bring his/her own identification as well as the child’s passport, birth certificate, and complete application to the consulate. 

b. If parent(s) or guardian(s) are applying for a visa at the same time as a child under 14, the parent(s) or guardian(s) may make appointments in their own name(s), and may bring in the child's application at the time of their interview and apply on the child's behalf without a separate appointment for the child.  Again, the child should not attend the interview.

All applicants who are 80 years old or older
All applicants who are 80 years old or older, and have not been previously refused U.S. visas, are not required to come to the U.S. Consulate to apply for nonimmigrant visas.  Such applicants may use the courier service described below.

If eligible to use the courier service
Those applicants who qualify to use courier service may apply by sending the following documentation to the Consulate through CITIC Bank two-way courier service:

• Passport: Passport valid for at least six months beyond their intended period of stay in the United States;
  
• Completed Visa Application Forms: DS-156 Electronic Visa Application Form (for all applicants) & DS-157 Supplemental Visa Application Form (for applicants over 16 years old);
  
• One Photograph: Two inches square (50x50 cm) color photo, less than 6 months old, against a white background, with full frontal view. The photo should be glued to the DS-156 Electronic Visa Application Form;
  
• Original Bank Receipt for Visa Application Fee: The 780 RMB application fee may be paid at any CITIC Bank branch in China;
  
• Children under 14 years old: Please provide a copy of the child’s birth certificate/ or family hukou registration book, as well as a copy of the parent’s passport or national identification card and a copy of the child’s previous nonimmigrant visa. 
  

At most locations, CITIC Bank charges a non-refundable service fee of RMB 200.  For more information about submitting visa applications at a local branch of CITIC Bank, please inquire at a bank location near you.  Please note the courier service is optional.  Applicants who are qualified to use this service may still apply in person under the regular appointment system.        

Note: The use of courier service does not guarantee visa issuance.  The Consulate may in some cases, after reviewing an application submitted by courier, require a person to appear in person for a visa interview at the Consulate.