HOW TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT UNDER THE GROUP LEISURE TOUR (GLT) APPOINTMENT SYSTEM

Under the special group leisure appointment system only travel agencies on the authorized list of participating travel agent are eligible to participate.  After a travel agency is listed on the approved list of travel agents they are eligible to make appointments through the special Group Leisure Tour Booking channel. 

All applicants age 14-79 who do not currently have a valid US visa will require an in-person interview, unless they are eligible for the renewal program described below.   Each agency must select a maximum of two persons at the travel agency who can make appointments for that travel agency.  The designated person or point of contact will e-mail an appointment request to GLTbooking@yxichina.com.  Appointment requests will be accepted by e-mail only.

The e-mail appointment request should include the following information for each visa applicant and for the tour guide if the tour guide will be entering the visa hall with the applicants:

• Name in Chinese
• Name in Pinyin
• Passport number
• China ID number
• City Passport Issued
• Date of Birth
• Date of Planned Travel
• 3 possible dates for interview appointment request
• Have you previously applied for a USA Visa for which you have been refused?

In the first stage starting June 1, 2008 only applicants residing in Beijing, Tianjin, Hubei, Hebei, Hunan, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, or Guangdong Province can participate in the group leisure tourism appointment channel.   If the applicant’s currently valid passport is issued from one of the following provinces they can apply through the Group Leisure Tour Appointment system. 

If the applicant lives in Beijing, Tianjin, Hubei, Hebei, Hunan they should apply in the U.S. Embassy in Beijing.

If the applicant lives in Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu they should apply in US Consulate Shanghai.

If the applicant lives in Guangdong Province  they should apply in the US Consulate Guangzhou.

Please note if a travel agency makes appointments for applicants who do not live in an eligible municipality or province they may be suspended from participating in this appointment system.  Please remember that all applicants not living in the selected provinces are welcome to apply through our regular appointment system.

After the travel agency makes the appointment request, they will receive a confirmation e-mail with the appointment date and time for the interview within 2 working days.  It is the responsibility of the travel agency to contact the applicant so they arrive for the interview on time.  We suggest that travel agencies request interview appointments 6 weeks before planned date of travel.

 

Visa Renewal Through CITIC Bank

Applicants who have a previous US visa that has been expired for less than twelve months may be eligible to renew their visa without an interview.  

The previous visa must be currently valid, or must have expired within the last twelve months. The applicant must also be applying for the same type of visa at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in China where he/she was issued his/her previous U.S. visa.  In addition, the applicant must be traveling on a People’s Republic of China passport.  Applicants with passports issued by authorities in Taiwan, Hong Kong, or Macao are NOT eligible to use this drop-off service.

Applicants whose previous visas applications required additional administrative processing time, or who have any previous visas with a “clearance received” date printed in the annotation area, are NOT eligible to use this drop-off service. 

Applicants who are eligible for use this service may submit their visa application forms (DS-156 and DS-157), photograph, passport containing previous visa, and supporting documents to any CITIC Bank branch.  Approved travel agents may submit applications to CITIC Bank on the applicant’s behalf.  CITIC Bank charges a flat fee of 200 RMB for this service. 

 

Visas Without Interview for Applicants Under 14 or Over 79

Applicants age 13 and younger are not required to interview or fingerscan to obtain a visa.  Likewise, applicants age 80 and older are not required to interview or fingerscan to obtain a visa.  Tour leaders of groups including applicants age 13 and younger or age 80 and older may submit their applications with the rest of the group.  They may also apply through the CITIC Bank program described above. 

Children age 13 and younger seeking their first visa at the Consulate General in Guangzhou need not interview, but a parent or legal guardian must interview on their behalf.  Please consult the Consulate General’s web site.