Who this is for: Applicants living in mainland China whose I-130, filed by a U.S. relative (spouse, parent, child or other), has been approved or is pending, and who will apply for an immigrant visa through the U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou ("consular processing"). The focus is on spouses (IR1/CR1); parent and child cases are similar. If you're already in the U.S. and want to adjust status there, see Marriage green card (adjustment of status).
⚠️ Consular immigrant visa policies changed a lot in 2025–2026. Fees and steps below were checked against official pages on October 14, 2026; check the official links again before you act.
1. Overview and timeline
Overall flow: USCIS approves the I-130 → the case goes to the National Visa Center (NVC) → pay fees in CEAC → fill out the DS-260 → upload the I-864 and civil documents → documentarily qualified → Guangzhou interview scheduled → medical exam at a designated clinic → Guangzhou interview → visa issued (pay the $235 USCIS Immigrant Fee, then enter) or 221(g) → green card mailed to your U.S. address
| Stage | Rough time (follow the official tools) |
|---|---|
| I-130 processing | See USCIS processing times |
| NVC fees → documents complete | Depends on how fast you prepare; you can fill out the DS-260 about 10 days after paying |
| Documentarily qualified (DQ) → Guangzhou interview | ⚠️ The official tool on 2026-10-07 shows Guangzhou scheduling immediate relative cases that became DQ in April 2026, and family preference cases from March 2025 |
| Interview → visa | Applicant reports: approved passports are mostly returned within 1–2 weeks; 221(g) cases take longer |
⚠️ Check Guangzhou's schedule in the IV Scheduling Status Tool, updated monthly.
2. Step by step
1. From I-130 approval to the NVC
- When filing the I-130, choose "consular processing" in Part 4. Spousal petitions must also include Form I-130A.
- After approval, USCIS sends the case to the State Department's National Visa Center (NVC), which creates a file and sends a Welcome Letter with your case number (Guangzhou case numbers start with GUZ) and Invoice ID, used to log in to CEAC.
- Waiting for a visa number: spouses, unmarried children under 21 and parents of U.S. citizens (immediate relatives) have no wait. Spouses and minor children of green card holders (F2A) wait for their priority date to become current: in October 2026 the mainland China F2A final action date is September 22, 2026.
2. Paying fees in CEAC
Log in to CEAC and click "PAY NOW." The two fees are paid separately, and you need a U.S. bank account and routing number:
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Immigrant visa application fee (IV fee) | $325 per person | Family-based; every applicant pays |
| Affidavit of support review fee (AOS fee) | $120 | Once per case |
About 10 days after payment the NVC finishes processing and you can start the DS-260. Fees not paid at the NVC can be paid at the Guangzhou interview in U.S. dollars or RMB (cash or credit card), but you can't mix currencies.
3. The DS-260
- In CEAC, click "START NOW" under IV Application. Each family member immigrating with you needs a separate DS-260.
- It covers personal information, address history, work and education history, travel history, family members, security and background questions and so on.
- After submitting, print the confirmation; you need it for the medical exam and interview. All information must match the I-130/I-130A and your civil documents.
4. The I-864 affidavit of support
- The sponsor (the U.S. relative) completes the I-864 with the most recent federal tax return or IRS transcript, W-2s, and proof of U.S. domicile.
- ⚠️ USCIS released a new I-864 edition (08/24/26) on August 31, 2026, which includes authorization to check credit. Submit the edition the NVC requires at the time.
- Income generally must reach 125% of the HHS poverty guidelines. 2026 (48 states): $27,050 for a household of 2, $34,150 for 3, $41,250 for 4. If the sponsor's income falls short, find a joint sponsor, who also submits an I-864 and tax records.
- The I-864 is a legally binding contract with the U.S. government; if the immigrant receives means-tested benefits, the government can seek reimbursement from the sponsor.
5. Civil documents (Chinese notarial certificates + police certificate)
For documents issued in China, you need a notarial certificate (gongzheng shu, a certificate issued by a Chinese notary office, or gongzhengchu, attesting to a fact such as a birth or marriage), with an English translation and a statement that "the translation conforms to the original." Official pages say the fee is usually RMB 300–500 per document (including translation). For how to have family in China handle this while you're in the U.S., and for translation requirements, see Preparing Chinese documents.
| Document | How to get it |
|---|---|
| Notarial birth certificate | From the local notary office; must show date and place of birth and both parents' names |
| Notarial marriage certificate | Either kind is accepted: "marital status notarization" or "marriage certificate notarization" |
| Divorce/death notarizations | If there were previous marriages, proof that both the applicant's and the sponsor's previous marriages ended |
| Notarial certificate of no criminal record (police certificate) | Required for anyone 16 or older who lived in China 6 months or more. First get a Certificate of No Criminal Record (wu fanzui jilu zhengming) from the public security bureau or exit-entry administration, then a notarial certificate from the notary office (with translation). ⚠️ Guangzhou requires it to be issued within 24 months before the interview. If you lived in another country for a year or more after age 16, you also need that country's police certificate |
| Former names, military service and so on | Former name notarization, discharge certificate notarization (if applicable) |
| Passport | Valid at least 8 months beyond the visa issue date |
If you're no longer in China, you can authorize a family member in writing (in Chinese, or English with a Chinese translation); notary offices differ, so ask first.
Scan and upload everything to CEAC. Don't mail documents to the NVC, but bring all originals to the interview. When the NVC finishes review, it emails you that the case is "documentarily complete."
6. The Guangzhou interview
- ⚠️ Guangzhou is the only post in mainland China that processes U.S. immigrant visas. Since November 1, 2025 the State Department requires immigrant visa applicants to interview in the consular district where they reside (or to request their country of nationality); to change posts you must ask the NVC through its Public Inquiry Form, not the post. For people living in mainland China, that means Guangzhou.
- After you receive the interview letter:
- Register online at usvisascheduling.com and choose how to get your passport back (CITIC Bank branch or delivery to your home).
- Book the medical exam (next step).
- Prepare originals from the post's checklist.
- Bring to the interview: the interview letter, passport (including old passports), two 2×2 inch white-background color photos (within 6 months), DS-260 confirmation, notarial birth certificate, police certificate, notarial marriage certificate (and proof previous marriages ended), the sealed medical envelope (if any), copies of the I-864 and tax records, proof of the sponsor's status (copy of U.S. passport / naturalization certificate / green card), and relationship evidence (photos together, chat and call records, money transfers, your hukou booklet (household registration booklet) and so on).
- The entrance is on Huaxia Road, near exit B-1 of Zhujiang New Town station. Sponsors and lawyers can't enter the waiting area. Children under 14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
- Common questions for spouses: How did you meet? When did you first meet in person? When and where did you register the marriage? Did you have a wedding, and who attended? When did your spouse last come to China and how long did they stay? What does your spouse do and which city do they live in? What are your living and financial plans in the U.S.? Do you have photos?
- In 2026 some applicants received emails from the post saying they would be asked about their "financial and living plans in the U.S." and should bring related documents.
7. Medical exam (designated clinics)
The exam can be done only by a panel physician designated by the post. You must have an interview date before you can book it, and it must be completed before the interview. The visa's validity is tied to the exam's validity.
| Clinic | Address | Basic fee (age 15+) |
|---|---|---|
| Guangzhou International Travel Healthcare Center | 4th–5th floors, East Tower, Poly Building, 59 Huali Road, Zhujiang New Town, Guangzhou; (020) 81219500 | RMB 1,700 |
| Beijing International Travel Healthcare Center | 20 Hepingli North Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing; (010) 82005029 | RMB 1,831.80 |
| Shanghai International Travel Healthcare Center | 2nd floor, Building 3, 15 Jinbang Road, Shanghai; (021) 62688851 | RMB 1,631–2,096 (by age) |
| Fujian Provincial Hospital (Jinshan campus) | 516 Jinrong South Road, Cangshan District, Fuzhou; (0591) 88619601 | RMB 2,000 |
⚠️ Prices follow the post's April 2026 instructions and may change. Bring the interview letter, passport, photos, vaccination records and DS-260 confirmation. The exam includes medical history, a physical, chest X-ray, blood test (15+), tuberculosis test (2+) and so on, with vaccinations as required by the CDC.
8. After the interview: 221(g)
The State Department says a visa can only be "issued" or "refused." A 221(g) is legally a refusal, meaning you haven't yet shown eligibility, but it can be overcome:
- More documents requested: submit them as instructed as soon as possible. Within one year your original case continues; after a year you must reapply and pay the application fee again.
- Administrative processing: the post needs more time to verify, and how long varies. The Guangzhou post says to wait at least 90 days after the interview before asking about progress.
- Check your status in CEAC: when it changes from Administrative Processing to Issued, the visa has been issued.
9. The USCIS Immigrant Fee
- After getting the visa and before entering the U.S., pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee of $235 online (per person) to have the green card produced. You need the A-Number and DOS Case ID from the visa packet; a family member can pay for you.
- Not paying doesn't affect your permanent resident status once you enter, but you won't get the physical green card and your only proof of status will be the I-551 stamp in your passport, valid for 1 year.
10. Entering and getting the card
- Enter within the visa's validity (generally tied to the medical exam's validity, usually no more than 6 months). The principal applicant must enter before or together with family members.
- If you were given a sealed visa packet, carry it with you, don't put it in checked bags and don't open it; if you didn't get one, your packet was sent to CBP electronically (EVIP). Carry your chest X-ray too (except with electronic medical exams).
- At entry CBP gives you an I-551 stamp in your passport, and you are a permanent resident from that day.
- The green card is mailed to the U.S. address on your DS-260; if your address changes, tell the CBP officer at entry or update it in your USCIS account. If you haven't received it 90 days after paying or entering, you can request help online.
- CR1 (married less than 2 years) gets a 2-year conditional green card and must file the I-751 in the 90 days before it expires; IR1 gets a 10-year card directly.
- After getting the green card, don't stay outside the U.S. for more than a year continuously, or you may lose your status.
3. Fee summary (per person/per case)
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| I-130 (sponsor pays USCIS) | $675 paper / $625 online |
| IV application fee | $325 per person |
| AOS review fee | $120 per case |
| USCIS Immigrant Fee | $235 per person |
| Medical exam | About RMB 1,600–2,100 per adult (plus vaccines) |
| Notarization | Usually RMB 300–500 per document |
For a spousal case with one applicant, government fees total about $1,305 (I-130 filed online) or $1,355 (I-130 on paper), plus the medical exam, notarization, travel and so on.
4. Major 2025–2026 changes
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| 2025-11-01 | Immigrant visa interviews in the consular district of residence (or country of nationality); changes go through the NVC |
| 2025-11 | Media reported a State Department cable instructing posts to review "public charge" factors more thoroughly (age, health, family, finances, education and skills); the official explanation page updated in February 2026 lists these factors |
| 2026-01-21 to 08-21 | The State Department paused immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries; China was not on the list; the pause was overturned by a federal court and is officially no longer in effect |
| 2026-03-01 | 2026 HHS poverty guidelines (I-864P) take effect |
| 2026-08 (official page updated 08-05) | Public charge bond pilot: posts can require individual applicants to post a bond to overcome a public charge refusal, with the amount set by the officer |
| Late August 2026 | According to Reuters and the South China Morning Post, the State Department, citing worldwide training on public charge review, adjusted immigrant visa interview scheduling, and many Guangzhou interviews were canceled and rescheduled; resumption varies by post since then, so follow your own notices and CEAC |
| 2026-08-31 | New I-864 edition (08/24/26); USCIS accepts only the new edition from 2026-10-01 |
5. What applicants in China should know
- Interviews are only in Guangzhou; medical exams can be done at four designated clinics in Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai and Fuzhou.
- Chinese documents always go through a notary office; for the police certificate, first get a certificate from the public security authorities, then have it notarized. Mind the 24-month validity and don't get it too early.
- Party and Youth League membership: INA 212(a)(3)(D) applies to immigrant visas too, with exceptions for involuntary membership, membership before 16, membership required to obtain the necessities of life, and having left the organization at least the required number of years earlier. Fill out the DS-260 and answer questions truthfully.
- People born in China cannot enter the DV lottery as the principal applicant (stated explicitly on the Guangzhou post's page).
- The only authorized visa information and appointment websites are those designated by the post; beware of agents promising "guaranteed approval."
6. What applicants report (since 2025)
Summaries of individual experiences from public forums, not guarantees.
- Total time: one CR1 applicant took about 11 months from mailing the I-130 in July 2024 to receiving the visa in June 2025; others were stuck longer at the I-130 stage or in 221(g).
- At the interview: you first hand in documents at a window in Zone A (passport, the three notarial certificates, sponsor documents), then wait in Zone B for the interview; officers may speak Mandarin, Cantonese or English. Questions are mostly about how you met, when you married and when your spouse last came to China; a chronological photo album is very useful.
- Common sticking points: an expired police certificate, a sponsor with insufficient income or incomplete tax records, missing proof that previous marriages ended, DS-260 information not matching other forms.
- The August 2026 rescheduling wave: many who had already done the medical exam had interviews canceled and had to wait for new notices. Exams have a validity period, so a long delay may mean redoing it; watch your email.
- 221(g): document requests usually resolve within a few weeks after submission; administrative processing ranges from a few weeks to several months, and frequent inquiries don't help much.
7. FAQ
1. Must the sponsor come to the Guangzhou interview? No, and the sponsor can't enter the waiting area.
2. How far ahead of the interview should I do the medical exam? Book as soon as you get the interview letter and finish before the interview date; you can't do the exam without an interview date.
3. Which police certificates do I need? China's if you lived there 6 months or more (age 16+); also any country where you lived a year or more after 16. Guangzhou requires issuance within 24 months.
4. What's the difference between the $120 AOS fee and the $235 USCIS Immigrant Fee? The $120 goes to the State Department to review the I-864; the $235 goes to USCIS to produce the green card and is paid after the visa is issued and before entry.
5. Does a 221(g) mean I was refused? Legally yes, but it can be overcome: submit documents within a year to continue the case; administrative processing requires waiting.
6. How long is the visa valid? Generally tied to the medical exam's validity; you must enter before it expires, and it can't be extended.
7. What if the sponsor's income isn't enough? Find a joint sponsor, or make up the difference with assets or the income of household members who live with the sponsor.
8. I work in a third country. Can I interview there? Since November 1, 2025 interviews follow your residence; if you have residence status there, you can ask the NVC, which may require proof of residence.
9. How long after entry until I get the green card? It's mailed after you pay the immigrant fee; if you haven't received it 90 days after entry or payment, you can request help online.
8. Official links
- Guangzhou post immigrant visa instructions (including medical exam and checklist): https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Supplements/Supplements_by_Post/GUZ-Guangzhou.html
- U.S. Embassy and Consulates in China, immigrant visas: https://china.usembassy-china.org.cn/visas/immigrant-visas/
- Medical and vaccination instructions (April 2026): https://cn.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/04/Medical-and-Vaccination-Instructions-Apr-2026.pdf
- China civil document requirements: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/China.html
- NVC fees: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/step-1-submit-a-petition/step-3-pay-fees.html
- Visa fees: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/fees/fees-visa-services.html
- 221(g) and administrative processing: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/administrative-processing-information.html
- IV scheduling tool: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/iv-wait-times.html
- Interviewing in your country of residence: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/adjudicating-iv-applicants-in-their-country-of-residence.html
- Public charge bonds: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/public-charge-bonds-for-immigrant-visa-applicants.html
- USCIS Immigrant Fee: https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-fees/uscis-immigrant-fee
- I-864 / poverty guidelines: https://www.uscis.gov/i-864 ; https://www.uscis.gov/i-864p
- Visa Bulletin (October 2026): https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2027/visa-bulletin-for-october-2026.html
- CEAC: https://ceac.state.gov
Related guides: Green card paths · Reading the visa bulletin · Guangzhou immigrant visa interview · Bringing your parents · Preparing Chinese documents · 221(g) · Checking your case status · Paths overview
Disclaimer: This guide is general information only and not legal advice. Immigration rules and fees change often; follow the latest from the State Department, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in China and USCIS, and talk to a licensed immigration attorney about complicated cases. The "what applicants report" section reflects individual experiences on public forums and is not a guarantee.