Immigration

Action Item: Chinese and U.S. citizen business travelers, as well as trainees and students, should consider applying for the now available longer validity period visa.

On November 12, 2014, the United States and the People's Republic of China started to reciprocally increase the validity of short-term business and tourist visas, as well as student and exchange visas issued to each other's citizens.

Chinese applicants who qualify for a B-category nonimmigrant visa ("NIV") may now be issued multiple-entry visas for up to 10 years for business and tourist travel. Qualified Chinese students and exchange visitors and their dependents who qualify for F, M, or J visas are also now eligible for multiple-entry visas valid for up to five years or the length of their program. U.S. citizens eligible for Chinese short-term business and tourist visas will also receive multiple-entry visas valid for up to 10 years, while qualified U.S. students may receive student residency permits valid for up to five years, depending on the length of their educational program.

Benefits of Visa Validity Extensions

The reciprocal extension of B-1 (short-term business) and B-2 (tourist) visa validity to 10 years will be more convenient and less costly for travelers. Prior to this, Chinese and American business travelers and tourists had to apply annually if visiting the U.S. or China each year. In addition, until now, many Chinese students who left the U.S. for short visits abroad were required to apply for new visas before returning to the U.S. Under the new arrangement, it will be easier and more convenient for Chinese students to return home because in most cases they will not be required to obtain new visas prior to returning to the U.S. to study.

The U.S. State Department has stated that the changes to the visa validity periods will increase travel and exchanges, enhance mutual understanding, and benefit both the U.S. and China's economies by increasing the ease of trade and investment.