B1/B2 Tourist, Family-Visit and Business Visa Step by Step (Applicants in Mainland China)

Who this is for: People with a mainland China passport, living in mainland China, who plan to visit the U.S. for tourism, family visits (seeing children or parents), short business trips or medical treatment; also for children in the U.S. helping their parents in China prepare a visa application.

Facts in this guide follow the U.S. Department of State (travel.state.gov) and the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in China, last checked 2026-10-14. Items marked ⚠️ change often, so check the official sites again before you go.

1. Do you need a visa?

• Mainland China passports need a visa. China is not in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, so short trips for tourism, family visits or business generally require a B1/B2 visitor visa.
• B1 = business (meetings, contract negotiations, trade shows, settling an estate); B2 = tourism (sightseeing, visiting family and friends, medical treatment, social events, short non-credit recreational courses). In practice they are usually issued together as B1/B2.
• What a B visa does not allow: studying for a degree, working (including being paid to look after your child's household), paid performances, or living in the U.S. as an immigrant. Traveling mainly to give birth in the U.S. so the child gets citizenship ("birth tourism") is not a permitted use of a visitor visa.
• Visa validity: Under the reciprocity arrangement for China, B1/B2 visas are usually 10 years, multiple entry (120 months). ⚠️ Exception: members of the Chinese Communist Party, their spouses and children under 21 receive B visas valid for 1 month, single entry (per the State Department reciprocity schedule).
• A visa is not a length of stay. The visa only lets you ask to enter at a port of entry; how long you may stay on each trip is decided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at entry and shown on your I-94 record.

2. Overview and timeline

Overall flow: Fill out the DS-160 → pay the $185 application fee → if you qualify for an interview waiver, submit documents through the system; otherwise book an interview → interview day (security → document check → fingerprints → interview) → approved / 221(g) administrative processing / 214(b) refusal → enroll in EVUS after you receive the visa → enter the U.S.; CBP decides how long you can stay

Rough timing:

3. Step by step

Step 1: Fill out the DS-160

• Official site: ceac.state.gov/genniv (this is the only official address; watch out for look-alike sites).
• Fill it out in English. Only the "full name in native alphabet" field is in Chinese. There is also a Chinese commercial code (telecode) field for your name.
• When you start, you get an Application ID; write it down. Each page saves when you click "Next"; unsubmitted forms are kept on the site for 30 days, and you can use "Save Application to File" to save a copy to your computer and upload it later.
• Browsers: the official FAQ lists Chrome and Firefox as supported; Safari and Edge are not.
• Photo: color, white background, taken within 6 months, facing forward, neutral expression; no glasses (unless a doctor certifies a medical reason). If the upload fails, the photo area on the confirmation page shows an "X" and you must bring a printed photo that meets the post's requirements.
• Sign electronically with "Sign Application" before submitting. Signing declares that the information is true; false statements can lead to a permanent visa bar.
• Print the DS-160 confirmation page (with the barcode); you must bring it on interview day.
• The work history section only asks for your two previous employers; you can bring a complete résumé as backup.
• For what each section asks and tips for filling it out for parents, see Filling out the DS-160.

Step 2: Pay the fees

What we can confirm about the Visa Integrity Fee:

1. It comes from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed on July 4, 2025 (Public Law 119-21, section 100007, codified at 8 U.S.C. §1806): people who receive a nonimmigrant visa pay it when the visa is issued, at least $250 starting in fiscal year 2025 and adjusted for inflation each year; it cannot be waived; if you comply with your status and leave on time (or lawfully extend or adjust), you may apply for a refund later.
2. On 2025-07-22, the Department of Homeland Security said in the Federal Register that the fee "requires interagency coordination and will be implemented in a future notice."
3. As of 2026-10-14, the State Department's official "Fees for Visa Services" page still does not list this fee, and the nonimmigrant visa page of the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in China has no notice about it. We have not found a formal implementation announcement.
4. Some online reports say posts in certain countries have started collecting it, but the reports are inconsistent and are not official announcements.

Our suggestion: Leave about $250 of room in your budget; whether, how much and how it is collected will follow the appointment system and the post's notices at the time you apply. Never pay a so-called "integrity fee" to any individual or "agent."

Step 3: Book an interview (posts in mainland China)

U.S. posts in China that handle nonimmigrant visas: the Embassy in Beijing and the Consulates General in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenyang and Wuhan. The Consulate General in Chengdu is no longer on the list of U.S. posts in China.

Where to find the appointment system: The safest way in is through the "Visas → Nonimmigrant Visas" page of the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in China website. The help desk listed there is support-china@usvisascheduling.com, phone +86 020 22890872 in China and +1 703 997 2809 in the U.S. ⚠️ The China appointment system has moved in recent years, and online tutorials mention both ustraveldocs.com and usvisascheduling.com; use whatever the embassy website links to, not search ads.

When booking you usually need: passport number, fee receipt number, and the 10-character barcode number from your DS-160 confirmation page.

Where to check wait times: The State Department's "Global Visa Wait Times" page, updated monthly. Next available B1/B2 interview as of the 2026-09-17 update:

Official tip: posts keep releasing new slots, so after booking, check the system often and move to an earlier date. The embassy also notes that because China has not allowed the U.S. Mission to hire new local staff since November 2021, the mission can process only a fraction of its former volume, so waits are longer.

Step 4 (important): Two big changes since 2025

Change 1: Apply in your country of nationality or residence (from 2025-09-06, updated again 2026-07-15)

• Nonimmigrant visa applicants should book interviews at the U.S. embassy or consulate in their country of nationality or residence.
• If you apply as a resident of a country, you must be able to show you live there.
• Applying in a third country (for example Japan, Singapore or Thailand, which used to be popular) may make it harder to qualify, waits are noticeably longer, and fees already paid are not refunded or transferred.
• In practice, for applicants from mainland China: you will almost always apply at one of the five posts in China unless you legally reside in another country.

Change 2: Interview waivers ("drop box") sharply limited (effective 2025-10-01)

Almost everyone must now interview, including children under 14 and adults over 79. The only B visa case that can still skip the interview requires all of the following:

• You are renewing a B1, B2 or B1/B2 visa;
• You apply within 12 months of the previous visa's expiration (previously 48 months);
• The previous visa was issued for the full validity period (10 years for China) and you were at least 18 when it was issued;
• You apply in your country of nationality or residence;
• You have never been refused a visa (unless the refusal was overcome or waived);
• There is no apparent or potential ineligibility.

Even if you meet every condition, the officer can still require an interview for any reason.

Additional rule for posts in China (updated 2026-02-03): Applicants under 14 must book an interview, be accompanied by at least one parent, and bring originals of: the birth certificate, the hukou (household registration) booklet if any, at least one parent's ID (passport or ID card; ideally both parents' current and old passports), and the parents' marriage certificate if applicable.

Step 5: Prepare documents

Required documents:

• A valid passport (normally valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended stay); bring old passports that contain valid U.S. visas;
• The DS-160 confirmation page;
• The appointment confirmation page;
• A printed photo that meets the requirements if your upload failed.

Supporting documents the officer "may ask for" (to show three things):

1. Purpose of the trip: itinerary, meeting invitation, information about the family member you are visiting;
2. Intent to return: proof of employment (employment letter, business license), family situation (hukou booklet, marriage certificate, property certificate);
3. Ability to pay: bank statements, savings, proof of income; if a relative is paying, their proof of funds.

The State Department specifically says: invitation letters and affidavits of support are not required, and even if you bring them, they are not a factor in whether you get a visa. The officer looks at your own ties to China, not at guarantees from friends or family in the U.S.

Extra documents for medical treatment: a diagnosis from your doctor in China, a letter from the U.S. medical facility agreeing to treat you with the course of treatment and cost, and proof of how you will pay.

4. Interview day and common questions

Interview day

1. Arrive on time for your appointment (some posts cancel late arrivals; follow your post's notice);
2. At the entrance, staff check your appointment letter and passport; some posts check printed photos;
3. Security: phones, electronics and large bags are generally not allowed; arrange storage according to each post's rules;
4. Inside you usually go to three windows: document check → ten-finger fingerprints → interview with the officer;
5. You get the result on the spot:
   • Approved: the post keeps your passport, places the visa and sends it back;
   • 221(g) administrative processing: you receive a notice, possibly asking for more documents; check progress at ceac.state.gov;
   • 214(b) refusal: your passport and a notice are returned. 214(b) means you did not show that you qualify for a nonimmigrant visa (mainly, you did not convince the officer you will return home on time). You can reapply when your circumstances change; there is no mandatory waiting period, but you must fill out a new form and pay again.

Common questions (by topic)

Purpose and itinerary

• Why are you going to the U.S.? Which cities? How long will you stay?
• Who is paying? Have you been to the U.S. before?

Work and income

• Where do you work? What is your position? How long have you worked there? What is your monthly income?
• Are you retired? What did you do before you retired? (Retirees are often asked this)

Family

• Are you married? Do you have children? Where are they?
• Who is traveling with you? Who else is at home?

Questions specific to family visits

• What does your child do in the U.S.? What is their status (student, work visa, green card, citizen)? What do they study or where do they work?
• How many years has your child been in the U.S.? Do they plan to come back?
• Are you going to help look after the grandchildren? (Answer honestly and stress that it is a family visit, not work)
• Is your child sponsoring you for immigration? (Answer honestly; concealment that is discovered is far worse than the truth)

Business

• Which company are you visiting? Who will you meet? What business will you discuss? What does your company do?

Want to practice these questions at home? Try a mock interview in the 美签专家 app (in Chinese).

5. Preparing for family visits

Parents visiting their children (the most common case):

• At least one parent should be able to explain the child's basic situation clearly: school or company name, major or position, city, type of status, and how long they have been in the U.S. It helps to bring copies of the child's status documents (passport bio page, U.S. visa / I-20 / I-797, green card or U.S. passport) and proof of enrollment or employment, to show only if the officer asks.
• The key is the parents' own ties in China: retirement or employment certificates, property, savings, other children or elderly relatives who need care in China.
• The trip should make sense: the length of stay should match the reason (for example, "attending a graduation and staying one month").
• If the child is sponsoring the parents for a green card, or the parents have previously stayed in the U.S. for long periods, explain it honestly if asked.
• Visitors cannot work in the U.S.; helping your child's family is part of a visit, but you cannot be paid.
• Travel by a pregnant family member to give birth in the U.S. is not a permitted purpose. In September 2026 the State Department also announced visa restrictions on birth-tourism agents and facilitators.

Children visiting their parents (parents are green card holders or citizens):

• Here the officer looks more closely at the applicant's own immigrant intent. Young, single applicants without stable jobs should be especially well prepared to show work, study and family ties in China.
• If your parents have already filed an immigration petition for you (such as an I-130), say so honestly when applying for a B visa. It does not automatically mean a refusal, but you need to show more convincingly that this trip is only a short visit.

For both: The U.S. contact, address and length of stay on your DS-160, what you say at the interview, and what you tell CBP at entry should all match.

6. After you get the visa: EVUS in brief

• Who must enroll: People with a People's Republic of China passport and a 10-year B1/B2, B1 or B2 visa must have a valid EVUS enrollment before every trip to the U.S. The visa foil says "EVUS enrollment required."
• Where: the official site evus.gov (beware of look-alike sites).
• Cost: ⚠️ Each new enrollment has been charged since 2025-09-30; from 2026-10-16 it is $31.75 (see EVUS enrollment).
• How often: Every 2 years; you must also re-enroll when you get a new passport or a new B visa (whichever comes first).
• If you don't enroll: The official rule is that you must enroll before traveling; without a valid enrollment you cannot use the visa to travel to the U.S. Enroll at least a few days before departure and keep the confirmation.
• For results, new passports and other details, see EVUS enrollment.

At entry: A visa does not guarantee admission; the CBP officer decides whether to admit you and for how long. Overstaying automatically voids your visa and affects future applications; if you really need to stay longer, apply to USCIS before your I-94 expires.

7. What applicants report (since 2025)

Common themes from 2025–2026 public posts on Chinese-language forums such as 1point3acres and Huaren, and personal blogs. Individual experiences, not guarantees.

• Booking difficulty varies a lot: In summer and fall 2026 many people reported they could never get B2 slots in Shanghai or Wuhan, then booked quickly after switching posts. Shenyang usually has the shortest wait. You can keep checking the system and consider another post, but factor in travel and hotel costs.
• The interview is short; the DS-160 matters: Many people feel the officer has already formed a view from the DS-160 before the interview, and the result comes after a few minutes and two or three questions. A specific, truthful, consistent DS-160 matters more than a thick stack of documents.
• Common situations where parents are refused: One post described parents in Beijing being refused after only two questions, "why are you going" and "tell me about your child"; another family's parents were refused twice and approved on the third try after thorough mock practice. Shared advice: make sure the parents can explain the purpose, itinerary and reasons to return in their own simple words; children can help them practice, but don't memorize templates or make up stories.
• Interview waiver renewals can be converted to interviews: In 2026 one person's mother applied for an interview-waiver renewal, was asked to come in for an interview, and then received a 221(g) asking for a résumé and publication list, related to her earlier work at a research institute. Applicants with STEM, defense, research or sensitive work backgrounds should allow time for administrative processing and prepare an English résumé in advance.
• Repeated refusals can turn around: A news report described a mother refused nine times in six years (including an attempt in a third country) who was approved in Beijing on her tenth application in 2026 after administrative processing. Her family's takeaway: tell the truth every time and bring complete documents.
• Interview day: You cannot bring your phone; bring one clear document folder. The line can take much longer than the interview. Applicants report that interviews in Mandarin are possible in Shanghai and Beijing.
• Don't wait to renew: Interview waivers now apply only within 12 months of expiration; after that you have to wait in line for an interview again, so parents whose visas are about to expire should renew early.

8. FAQ

1. My old passport has expired but contains a valid visa. Can I still use that visa with a new passport? Yes. The State Department says a valid visa in an expired passport remains valid; do not remove it, and travel with both passports. Remember to re-enroll in EVUS with the new passport.

2. Do I need an invitation letter? No. The State Department says invitation letters and affidavits of support are not required and are not factors in the decision. Bringing one doesn't hurt, but it won't decide the outcome.

3. I'm in the U.S. Can my parents renew their B visas in the U.S.? B visas must be applied for by the applicant at a U.S. embassy or consulate in their country of nationality or residence (usually China). You can help fill out the DS-160 (and list yourself as the person who helped), pay and book, but the interview or waiver submission still happens in China.

4. How long after a 214(b) refusal can I reapply? There is no legal waiting period. But if nothing has changed, reapplying right away usually gives the same result. Figure out where your case was weak and reapply after real improvement.

5. What do I do after a 221(g)? Submit whatever the notice asks for, then check your status at ceac.state.gov with your DS-160 barcode number. There is no official processing time, so don't buy non-refundable tickets in the meantime.

6. Can children under 14 or an 80-year-old still skip the interview? No. Since 2025-10-01 both groups generally must interview, and posts in China require children under 14 to come with at least one parent and bring originals such as the hukou booklet and birth certificate.

7. Do I pay the $250 visa integrity fee now? As of 2026-10-14, the State Department fee page does not list it, and we have not found a collection notice from the posts in China. By law it is collected "at the time of visa issuance," not at booking. Follow the appointment system and post notices when you apply.

8. Can I interview faster in a third country such as Japan or Singapore? Since 2025-09-06 you should generally apply in your country of nationality or residence. Applicants from mainland China without residence there may find it harder to get a visa, wait longer, and lose the fee.

9. With a 10-year visa, how long can I stay each time? Visa validity and length of stay are separate. CBP decides each stay at entry, shown on your I-94 record (which you can look up on the CBP website). To stay longer, apply to USCIS before it expires.

10. Can Chinese Communist Party members get a B visa? They can apply, but under the reciprocity schedule, B visas for Party members, their spouses and children under 21 are limited to 1 month, single entry. Answer the forms and questions truthfully.

9. Official links

• State Department visitor visa (B1/B2) page: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visitor.html
• Fees for Visa Services: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/fees/fees-visa-services.html
• China reciprocity schedule (validity, issuance fee, Party member limits, EVUS note): https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/China.html
• DS-160: https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/
• DS-160 FAQs: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/forms/ds-160-online-nonimmigrant-visa-application/ds-160-faqs.html
• Photo requirements: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/photos.html
• Global visa wait times: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/global-visa-wait-times.html
• Interview waiver update (2025-09-18): http://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/interview-waiver-update-sept-18-2025.html
• Applying in your country of nationality or residence (updated 2026-07-15): https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/adjudicating-niv-applicants-in-their-country-of-residence.html
• U.S. Embassy and Consulates in China, nonimmigrant visas: https://china.usembassy-china.org.cn/visas/nonimmigrant-visas/
• Visa integrity fee statute (8 U.S.C. §1806, mirror): https://uscode.ecfr.io/title/8/section/1806
• Federal Register, 2025-07-22 (visa integrity fee "implemented in a future notice"): https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/07/22/2025-13738/uscis-immigration-fees-required-by-hr-1-reconciliation-bill
• EVUS: http://www.evus.gov/
• Extending your stay (USCIS): https://www.uscis.gov/visit-the-united-states/extend-your-stay

Related guides: Filling out the DS-160 · Booking a visa interview · EVUS enrollment · 214(b) refusals · 221(g) administrative processing · Entering the U.S. and the I-94 · Paths overview

Disclaimer: This guide is for reference only and is not legal advice. Visa policies, fees and wait times can change at any time; always check the latest from the State Department and the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in China. If your situation is complicated (previous refusals, overstays, sensitive fields of study or work, a pending immigration case), talk to a licensed U.S. immigration attorney.