Frequently Asked Questions

1.   What are the Consulate’s hours of operation?
The Consulate is open Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:30pm.  Holiday schedules can be found on our website at http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/holidays.html. Applicants are not allowed entrance to the Consulate without an appointment.  American citizens may make an appointment to visit the American Citizen Services office Monday to Friday, between 9:00am to 11:30am and 1:30pm to 3:00pm.  These appointments should be made online: you can find a link to the appointments page from the ACS webpage: http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/service.html.  Please note that ACS cannot accept documents submitted by immigrant visa petitioners and has limited ability to answer questions about IV cases.

2.   What is the Consulate’s mailing address? 
United States Consulate General Guangzhou
1 Shamian South Street
Guangzhou, 510133 PRC

3.   Is the mailing address where the consular section holds visa interviews and  provides American Citizen Services? 
No.  The consular section is located across town at:
Tian Yu Garden (Phase II)
5th Floor
136-146 Lin He Zhong Lu,
Tian He District, Guangzhou

4.   Should I hire a lawyer or visa consultant to help with the visa process? 
This is a decision that only you can make.  Note that the U.S. Consulate General does not endorse or have a "special relationship" with any individual or business that offers advice or assistance with the visa process. No one can guarantee the issuance of a visa to you. Anyone who tells you otherwise is misinformed or lying.  The only U.S. consular office in Guangzhou is located on the 5th floor at Tianyu. All U.S. Government forms are free and available on the internet.

Beware: many visa applicants lose money or are permanently barred from the United States as a result of misleading information and fraudulent applications provided by visa consultants.

5.   How can I contact the Consulate regarding a visa case?
The Immigrant Visa Unit accepts inquiries regarding specific cases through an email form on its website: http://guangzhou.usconsulate.gov/iv/email.html. If you don’t have access to the internet, you may send your inquiry via mail or fax at (86-20) 3884-4412. The IV Unit can only respond to inquiries from applicants, petitioners, and attorneys of record.
U.S. Citizen petitioners who would like general information on the Immigrant Visa process in Guangzhou may attend an information session hosted by Consular Officers on Mondays at 2:00pm.  The purpose of these sessions is to address frequently asked questions and provide you with a better understanding of the process.  Cases cannot and will not be re-adjudicated at petitioner hour.  Additional materials for cases that have already been interviewed cannot be submitted during these sessions.

6.   I’ve been told that I should not tell the consular officer certain information, as it might hurt my chances of getting a visa.
It is always a bad idea to lie to or withhold information from a consular officer.  Lying to U.S. Government officials is a crime, and doing so may cause the applicant to be permanently barred from the United States.

7.   Why won’t the Consulate give me information about my relative’s case?
U.S. law mandates that information regarding any immigrant visa application be released only to the applicant, petitioner, attorney of record, or relevant Congressional office.

8.   Can I travel to the United States while my application for an immigrant visa is  being processed?
If you intend to take up permanent residence in the U.S., you are required to wait to travel until you have been issued an immigrant or fiancé/e visa. However, if you wish to make a temporary visit to the United States, at the end of which you will return to your permanent residence abroad, you may be eligible for a tourist (B2) non-immigrant visa. To receive a B2 visa, you must prove to the interviewing officer that you do not intend to immigrate to the U.S. until after completing the ongoing immigrant visa process. For obvious reasons, this is often a difficult thing to prove.

9. How do I file a petition?  How long does it take?
Immigrant Visa petitions must be filed with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which is part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  The best place to find information about how to file a petition is at their website: http://www.uscis.gov.

In general, IV petitions must be filed at a regional USCIS office in the United States.  Some petitioners who have been resident in China for more than 6 months may be eligible to file their petition at the USCIS offices in Guangzhou or Beijing, depending on where they live (see below).  All K visas and numerically limited visas must be filed in the U.S. 

Petition processing times depend on a number of factors, including how quickly petitioners respond to requests for information.  Petitioners should probably plan on their petitions taking at least six months to be approved by USCIS.  After petitions are approved, they are passed along to the National Visa Center (NVC) before ultimately being sent to Guangzhou.  Please note that due to a bilateral treaty with China, all immigrant visa petitions remain in Chinese customs for at least three months before being passed on to the Consulate.

10.   I’ve been living in China for more than 6 months.  How can I file an immigrant visa petition here?
If you’ve been resident in China for at least the last six months, and are petitioning for the CR1/IR1, CR2/IR2, or IR5 visa classes, you can file a petition at a USCIS office in China.

For the Guangzhou consular district (Guangdong, Hainan, Fujian, Guangxi), contact the USCIS office in Guangzhou:

       U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services 
       5th floor, 2nd annex of Tianyu Garden
       136-142, Linhe Zhong Rd.
       Guangzhou, P. R. China 510133
       Phone: (86-20) 8518-7651
       Email: cis-guangzhou.inquiries@dhs.gov

For the rest of China, contact the USCIS office in Beijing:

      U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
      Beijing Kerry Centre, South Tower Office
      Guang Hua Road No. 1 
      Suite 2320
      Beijing, 100020, China
      Phone: (010) 8529-6740
      Email: DHSBeijing-CIS@dhs.gov

Note that the Beijing USCIS office is open to the public by appointment only.  See http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/homeland_security.html for more details.

11. I received a letter from NVC stating that my case has been sent to the Consulate.  When will my interview appointment be? 
NVC sends this letter when the case is transferred electronically to Guangzhou.  The interview cannot take place, however, until the physical file arrives at post.  Due to unavoidable delays in getting files through Chinese customs, it takes about 3 months for them to arrive at the Consulate after being shipped by NVC.  Once the Consulate receives the physical file, it will send a letter to the applicant with information about how to proceed with their application. Once all necessary documents have been submitted; all security checks have been completed; and (for numerically limited visa classes) the visa is available; the Consulate will schedule the interview and notify the applicant.  Interviews are typically scheduled 3-6 weeks in advance.

12. How can I withdraw a petition?
If you intend to withdraw your immigrant visa petition, please mail us a notarized statement from the petitioner.  The original, signed statement is necessary to close your case.

13. When can I hear from the Consulate after the NVC transferred my case to Guangzhou?
It is the responsibility of applicants to inform the Consulate of changes to their mailing address or phone number.  If you have not heard from the Consulate, there is a good chance that we do not have your correct contact information.  If such is the case, you should contact the Consulate through its website at http://www.usembassy-china.org.cn/guangzhou/iv/email.html to check on the status of your application and ensure that we have your correct mailing address.

14. Where can I pay the required visa application fee?
Immigrant Visa applicants must pay a processing fee of US$400.  Most applicants pay this fee directly to the National Visa Center (NVC) before their case is transferred to Guangzhou.  If the applicant has not yet paid this fee by the day of the interview, s/he must pay it to the cashier prior to interviewing.  All K visa applicants must pay a non-refundable application fee of US$131 (or equivalent in RMB) at a CITIC Bank prior to the visa interview. The fee can be paid at any of the branches of CITIC Bank in mainland China. 

Please note that fees are subject to change.  See http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/fees.htm for updated information about application fees.

15.  When should I arrive for my visa interview?
Applicants should be in line in front of the Consulate by the time of their scheduled interview.  Applicants who arrive late may not be allowed to interview.

16. Can the interview date be expedited?
No.  Due to the limited availability of certain types of visas, some applicants have been waiting more than 12 years since their petitions were first filed.  Out of fairness, the Consulate cannot entertain requests to expedite interview appointments.

17. Why are my security checks taking so long?
A number of routine security checks must be performed on each applicant before a visa can be issued.  These checks are done by the Department of State in Washington, D.C., and so the Consulate has no control over how long they take.  While in many cases the security checks are very quick, they can at times take as long as a couple of months.   If you were told that the Consulate is waiting for a security check before proceeding with your case, please wait two months before contacting the Consulate for a status update.

18.  What should my spouse/fiancé(e) bring to the interview?
The Packet 3 instructions that are mailed to applicants (also available at http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/forms_and_packets.htm) have detailed information about what to bring to an interview.  Please note that beyond the required documents listed on this form (such as birth certificates, police records, and medical exams), there is no “checklist” of documents that officers use to determine whether to approve a case.  Applicants typically bring with them evidence of their relationship—such as pictures, e-mail correspondence, and phone records—along with several years of tax records or other documents demonstrating the petitioner’s financial situation.  While officers typically won’t need to review everything an applicant brings to the interview, applicants are advised to err on the side of bringing too much information, rather than too little.

19. My child is about to turn 21, but my priority date is not current.  Can we have the interview now so that s/he will be eligible for the visa?
U.S. immigration law does not allow a consular officer to issue visas to anyone whose priority date is not current. When your priority date becomes current, we will determine whether or not the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) applies to your child. If eligible, your child will be able to receive a visa even after the age of 21.  If your child is not eligible for CSPA protection and turns 21 before your interview, you will need to file an F2B petition after you immigrate to the U.S. and receive your green card.

Note: whether or not your child is eligible for CSPA protection is determined by circumstances that took place long before your case even arrived at the Consulate.  Your interview date does not affect whether a child is eligible for CSPA protection.

20. My fiancé/e has petitioned for me, but what about my children – can they go with me?
Minor children (unmarried and under 21 years of age) of a K1 applicant may derive immigration benefits from the same I-129F petition and be issued a K2 visa. 

21. I need to change my appointment date. What should I do?
You may request to change or postpone your interview date by contacting the Consulate either by mail, fax, or email. Be sure to include your name, case number, and your updated mailing address in Chinese characters. Also include a contact phone number where you can be reached. 

Your new interview date will be set according to the Consulate’s interview schedule. Please note that in periods of high demand, this may up to several months. The Consulate will send you a new appointment package as soon as your next interview date has been set.

22. I’m pregnant and can’t have the X-rays that are required for the medical exam.  What can I do?
You are not expected to have X-rays taken while you are pregnant. The panel physician will advise you when, after you’ve given birth, it will be medically appropriate to have these X-rays taken.

23. I don’t understand the I-864 Affidavit of Support form. Where can I get help?
As the petitioner, you must accept legal responsibility for financially supporting your beneficiary. You accept this responsibility and become your beneficiary’s sponsor by completing and signing a legal document called an Affidavit of Support, usually a Form I-864.  See the USCIS website at http://www.uscis.gov for further information.

24. I don’t understand the concept of domicile.
Please check http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3183.html#_Domicile for further information about what constitutes a domicile and how domicile requirements can affect immigrant visa applications.

25. I'm divorced and applying for an immigrant visa. Do I need permission from my ex-spouse to take our child to the United States?
The Consulate generally accepts either a notarized copy of the custody agreement currently in effect, or a notarized statement from the ex-spouse giving the child permission to travel. This requirement can vary, however, according to the circumstances of each case, and is ultimately at the discretion of the adjudicating consular officer.

26. What is a priority date and where can I find more information about it?
For numerically limited visas, petitions are processed in the order of their priority dates.  For family-based visas, the priority date is the date when the petition was filed at the relevant USCIS office.  For employment-based visas, the priority date is typically the date the labor certification application was received by the U.S. Department of Labor.
You can find current priority date information at: http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_1770.html

27. My petitioner is currently retired or unemployed. Does s/he still need to submit  an Affidavit of Support?
Yes. All petitioners must accept legal responsibility for financially supporting the family members they are petitioning once they reach the United States. You accept this responsibility and become your relative's sponsor by completing and signing a document called an “Affidavit of Support,” which is either Form I-864 or I-134, depending on the type of visa. 

If your petitioner does not meet the financial requirements necessary to be a sole sponsor, they may wish to ask close relatives or friends to act as a joint sponsor by filing an additional Affidavit of Support.  Please note that joint sponsors who submit form I-864 are accepting the same legal responsibility for financially supporting the beneficiaries.

28. Where can I get my I-864 Affidavit of Support form notarized?
Actually, AOS forms no longer require notarization.  You can find the latest version of the forms at http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-864.pdf. Alternatively, you may submit a previous version of the form without notarization.

29. I have submitted the information requested in my “Packet 3” instruction packet.  When will my interview take place?
For fiancé/e and immediate relative visa applications (i.e., K and IR visas), interview appointments are generally scheduled for 2-3 months from the time we receive the physical petition from the National Visa Center (NVC) or the relevant USCIS office in China.  For family-based petitions (i.e., F visas), interview appointments are generally scheduled 2-3 months after the cases have been received and the priority dates have become current.  For employment-based cases (i.e., E and I visas, among others), interview appointments are generally scheduled 2-3 months from the time that the Consulate has completed all necessary administrative processing. 

Please note that the timing of interviews is dependent on caseload, and so it may at certain times take longer to get an interview than is normal.

Applicants will be notified of their interview date and time by way of an appointment letter that is enclosed within the appointment package (“Packet 4”).  This letter should arrive two to four weeks ahead of the interview date.

30. Where can I get the Chinese police certificate required for my application?

Police certificates are required for all applicants who are 16 or older. They can be acquired at your local municipal (or provincial) notary office.

31. I did not receive the visa instruction package (Packet 3).  How can I get another   sent to me?
For K visa cases, if you have not received Packet 3, please contact us either by mail, fax or email with principal beneficiary’s name and updated mailing address in Chinese characters, the postal code, and his/her contact phone number. We will resend the packet after receiving this information.  You may also download and printout the forms here.

For all other visa types, if you have not yet received Packet 3, please contact the National Visa Center (NVC).

32. I did not receive the appointment package (Packet 4).  How can I get another sent to me?
If you have not received Packet 4, please contact the Immigrant Visa Unit of U.S. Consulate General Guangzhou by fax, mail or email, and request that it be resent. In some cases, it will be necessary to reschedule interviews for a later date.  Please be sure to include the principal beneficiary’s name and updated mailing address in Chinese characters, as well as the postal code and contact phone number.

33. How can I obtain a police certificate from another country?  Can your office assist in this matter?
You should contact the police in that foreign country directly. If you have difficulty reaching them, you may wish to contact the Embassy/Consulate of that foreign country in China for further information on how to obtain a police certificate. You may also wish to contact the Chinese Embassy in that country and ask them to contact the local police authorities on your behalf.  We regret that the U.S. Consulate General is unable to assist you in obtaining any police certificates.

34. I am a lawful permanent resident, but I have been out of the United States for more than a year. I want to return to live in the United States. What should I do?
As a former LPR, you may qualify for returning resident status, in which case you could be issued an SB1 immigrant visa.  There are several requirements that returning residents must meet:

• The applicant must have been a lawful permanent resident of the United States at the time of his or her last departure;
• At the time of departure, the applicant must have had the intention of returning to the United States to live; and
• The applicant’s temporary residence abroad must have been caused by reasons beyond his or her control.

For further information on how to apply a SB1 visa, please check: http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/sb1_visas_returning_residents.htm

35. Can the petitioner attend the interview?
No.  Due to space and time limitations, the Consulate cannot allow petitioners to participate in visa interviews.  In certain extraordinary circumstances, where the applicant would have difficulty navigating the interview alone (typically due to age or infirmity), an escort may be permitted.  These are rare exceptions.

36. Why didn’t the interviewing officer take all my documents?  I had everything with me at the window!
Consular officers will occasionally give applicants a refusal sheet requesting that they submit documents that they brought with them to the interview.  This happens because the applicant also needs to provide other information that they did not have at the interview, and the officer would prefer to review everything together at a later time, either because the applicant was having difficulty locating documents in a timely manner, or the information was in a format that cannot be stored in the Consulate (such as a large photo album).

37. Why was my interview so short?  The officer only asked me a few questions.
Officers have access to a lot of information about each case before the applicant even comes to the window; information gathered from the interview forms only part of the evidence being considered by each officer.  Due to severe time constraints, interviews must be handled expeditiously, and so officers are trained to only ask questions that they feel are directly relevant to the adjudication decision.

38. My flight to the U.S. leaves the day after the interview.  How quickly can I get my visa?
The Consulate strongly encourages you not to buy your tickets or make travel plans until after your visa has been approved.  The Consulate cannot guarantee that your visa will be approved at the original interview and will not take responsibility for the consequences of your decision to buy a non-refundable plane ticket before your interview takes place.  Once your visa has been approved, you will make arrangements with China Post to either pick up or have your passport mailed to you (the latter service is currently only available if you live in Guangdong Province, although we hope that it will be expanded throughout the country at some point in the future).  Passports are typically available for pick-up after two business days.

39. My visa was refused, and the officer asked for more documents.  When and where can I submit documents to overcome this refusal?  If I cannot come personally, is it possible for my relative or someone else to submit documents on my behalf?
If you were refused a visa at your interview and the Consular Officer requested that you provide further information, you should follow the instructions on your blue refusal sheet and mail the documents directly to the Consulate.   Please make sure that you include in your submission all the original refusal sheets that were given to you at the interview.
Please note that this is the only method by which the Consulate can accept further documentation.  The Consulate cannot accept documents provided by email or fax, unless you are specifically requested to do so.  In addition, the Consulate does not accept documents at either petitioner hour or the American Citizen Services office.

40. Can I talk to the interviewing officer?  If not, why?
Aside from the original interview, interviewing officers are not available to talk to applicants or petitioners about their individual cases.  This is due to prohibitive workload constraints; the Consulate adjudicates more than 50,000 immigrant visas and receives tens of thousands of pieces of correspondence each year.   The Consulate makes every effort to ensure that applicants and petitioners can voice their concerns, either by email, fax, or letter correspondence; at Monday petitioner hour; or through the submission of documents to overcome prior refusals.  The Immigrant Visa Unit reads and responds to every piece of correspondence it receives.

41. I was told that I have a ‘public charge’ ineligibility, but my petitioner/cosponsor’s income is above the poverty guidelines.   Why am I ineligible?
Consular officers are mandated by law to consider the totality of circumstances when determining whether an applicant has a public charge ineligibility.  Income is but one of the many criteria that officers must review; others include the applicant’s health, age, education level, work experience, language ability, and family situation.  It is not uncommon for applicants to be found ineligible even when their petitioner’s income is above the poverty guidelines.  To overcome this ineligibility, applicants must either find a credible cosponsor with sufficient income and assets, or prove that their financial situation has changed since the interview.

42. Can I enter the U.S. with my K1 fiancé/e visa, depart the U.S., and then re-enter using the same fiancé/e visa?
No.  The K1 fiancé/e visa is single-entry. After receiving a K1 visa, you are required to marry within 90 days of your arrival in the U.S. and apply immediately afterwards for an adjustment of status with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). You may not depart the U.S. until after you have successfully adjusted your status and been granted lawful permanent resident (LPR) status. Please visit the USCIS website for further information: http://www.uscis.gov.

43. What is a waiver, why do I need one, and how do I apply for one?
A waiver is a special authorization granted by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to waive an ineligibility that would otherwise prevent a beneficiary from immigrating to the United States. If you have a permanent ineligibility, the Consulate will let you know whether a waiver is available. If so, you will be given an Application for Waiver of Ground of Inadmissibility (Form I-601) and instructions on how to apply.  Please note that waivers are often not granted to beneficiaries, and that DHS retains the sole authority to approve or deny waivers. Further information can be found here.

44. I sent some documents to the Immigrant Visa Unit; have you received them yet?
Mail and faxes are processed in the order received by the Consulate. Due to the large volume of inquiries we receive daily, replies cannot be instantaneous.  To ensure efficient processing of your inquiry, please be sure to include your name and mailing address in Chinese characters, along with your contact phone number.

Please note that documents used to overcome a refusal given at the visa interview cannot be submitted to the Consulate by fax unless a consular officer has specifically requested that you do so.  Overcome documents mailed to the Consulate are processed in the order received; if you have not heard from the Consulate about your case within three months, please contact us via our webform.

45. I am unable to submit a document that your office requested.  What should I do?

If you are unable or unwilling to provide the information requested by the consular officer, you should submit a letter explaining the circumstances that prevent you from complying with the request.  The officer will consider your letter when adjudicating the visa application.

46. My passport containing a valid visa has expired. I've obtained a new passport. Do I need a new visa?
If the passport in which your visa has been placed has expired, the visa in the old passport still can be used.  You must provide both your old and current passports at the port of entry. 

Note: if, when canceling your old passport, your national passport authority has inadvertently damaged the U.S. immigrant visa, that visa is no longer valid and cannot be used for travel to the U.S.  In such event, please bring your passport and visa package to the Consulate any day, Monday through Wednesday, at 2:00 p.m., with an explanation letter in both Chinese and English.  Although it should be no problem to reissue your visa, payment of an additional visa application fee may be required.

47. What should I do if my visa was lost or stolen?
You must mail or fax us information describing when and where your visa was lost or stolen. Be sure to include a police report from local authorities.  Please also include your name and updated mailing address in Chinese characters, along with the postal code and your contact phone number.  You will be contacted after your information has been reviewed.

48. What happens if I can’t travel within six months of when I receive my visa? 
Immigrant and fiancé/e visas cannot be extended.  If the visa is not used within its period of validity, you must bring it and the visa packet to our office for cancellation, along with a statement explaining the reasons why the visa was not used. It is possible that you will be eligible to receive a new visa, although this is not certain and depends on the circumstances of your case.  Payment of an additional visa application fee may be required.

49. What should I do if I notice that my visa has an error or incorrect information on it?
Please contact us either by mail, fax, or email, with the principal beneficiary’s name and updated mailing address in Chinese characters, along with the postal code and his or her contact phone number.

50. How soon can I travel to the U.S. once the visa is issued? For how long is my visa valid?
You can travel as soon as you receive your visa.  Immigrant and fiancé/e visas are valid for six months; note that you must enter the U.S. by this visa expiration date. In some cases, visas may be limited to expire before the end of the standard six-month period.  Again, please note that you must enter the U.S. before your visa’s validity expires.