U.S. embassies and consulates liberalize interview appointment policy.
Effective immediately, non-immigrant visa applicants may book interview appointments at any U.S. Consular Section in China, regardless of the province or city where they live. Consular Sections are located at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and U.S. Consulates General in Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Shenyang.
In 2009, almost half-a-million people received non-immigrant visas in China, more than ever before. The United States government is committed to increasing mutual understanding between the United States and China through people-to-people exchange. The U.S. Department of State is hoping that the elimination of restrictions on where visa applicants can make their applications will promote this exchange by making the application process more convenient.
With the boom of non-immigrant visa applications in U.S. embassies and consulates all over the world, the U.S. Department of State is adopting and transitioning office-by-office to its new online Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application recently introduced worldwide. The online application is intended to efficiently collect application information from nonimmigrant visa applicants and to facilitate the visa application process.
Formerly, prior to the streamlining of interview appointment policy which has occurred, appointments for non-immigrant visas had to be made at least 45 days in advance of travel. Even after a visa interview was completed, if special processing/checking, or additional information was required, a background check became a necessary prerequisite, and issuance of nonimmigrant visas were typically delayed.
Stewart Rabinowitz is President of Rabinowitz & Rabinowitz, P.C. Mr. Rabinowitz is Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. To contact a Dallas immigration lawyer or Dallas immigration attorney visit Rabinowitzrabinowitz.com
