Beijing
B-1/B-2 visitor
4.5 months~Feb 2027
F/M/J student/exchange
5.5 months~Mar 2027
H/L/O work
6 months~Mar 2027
October 2026 US Visa Appointment Wait Times in China: Beijing B-1/B-2 ~4.5 months
How long until the next available visa interview at the U.S. embassy and consulates in China and the consulate general in Hong Kong. Data from the State Department, updated monthly.
October 2026 at a glance
- Fastest for B-1/B-2 visitors: Shenyang and Hong Kong, Under 2 weeks.
- Slowest: Beijing, 4.5 months.
- Fastest for F/M/J students: Shenyang and Hong Kong, Under 2 weeks.
- Updated by the State Department on 2026-09-17; slots change daily as people cancel and earlier dates open up.
US visa appointment wait times by post (months)
| Post | B-1/B-2 visitor | F/M/J student/exchange | H/L/O work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing | 4.5 months~Feb 2027 | 5.5 months~Mar 2027 | 6 months~Mar 2027 |
| Shanghai | 3.5 months~Jan 2027 | 1 months~Oct 2026 | 3.5 months~Jan 2027 |
| Guangzhou | 2 months~Nov 2026 | 2.5 months~Dec 2026 | 2.5 months~Dec 2026 |
| Shenyang | Under 2 weeks | Under 2 weeks | 1 months~Oct 2026 |
| Wuhan | 2 months~Nov 2026 | 2.5 months~Dec 2026 | 4.5 months~Feb 2027 |
| Hong Kong | Under 2 weeks | Under 2 weeks | Under 2 weeks |
Shanghai
B-1/B-2 visitor
3.5 months~Jan 2027
F/M/J student/exchange
1 months~Oct 2026
H/L/O work
3.5 months~Jan 2027
Guangzhou
B-1/B-2 visitor
2 months~Nov 2026
F/M/J student/exchange
2.5 months~Dec 2026
H/L/O work
2.5 months~Dec 2026
Shenyang
B-1/B-2 visitor
Under 2 weeks
F/M/J student/exchange
Under 2 weeks
H/L/O work
1 months~Oct 2026
Wuhan
B-1/B-2 visitor
2 months~Nov 2026
F/M/J student/exchange
2.5 months~Dec 2026
H/L/O work
4.5 months~Feb 2027
Hong Kong
B-1/B-2 visitor
Under 2 weeks
F/M/J student/exchange
Under 2 weeks
H/L/O work
Under 2 weeks
How to read these numbers
The table shows how many months until the next available interview, as posted by the State Department, and the estimated month that works out to. It reflects the day it was posted: slots change daily as people cancel and earlier dates open up, so you may get an earlier or a later date.
B-1/B-2 (visitors, family visits, business), F/M/J (students and exchange visitors) and H/L/O (work) have separate queues, and the three can differ by months at the same post. Student slots usually expand in the months before school starts.
In mainland China you can generally choose any post for a nonimmigrant visa interview, not just the one near where you live (the booking system is authoritative). Budget for travel and lodging if you go to another city, and for a possible second trip if you are asked for more documents under 221(g).
Common questions
When does the “months” count start?
From the day the State Department last updated this data, shown on this page. The month in brackets is estimated from that day.
What if I can’t wait?
Book the earliest regular slot first, then request an expedited appointment in the booking system with the reason (for example a family emergency, a funeral, or a fixed school or work start date) and proof. The post decides; tourism is generally not an emergency.
Do renewals wait this long too?
Renewals that qualify for an interview waiver (dropbox) skip the interview queue and have their own processing time. Since September 2025 the waiver rules are much narrower and most applicants need an interview; check the booking system and the post’s notices.
How long does 221(g) administrative processing take?
There is no fixed timeline: most cases take 1 to 3 months, a few six months or more. See the 221(g) guide.
Related policies
| Policy | Status | When | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| EVUS fee rises to $31.75 | In effect | From 2026-10-16 | The fee for each EVUS enrollment by holders of Chinese passports with 10-year B visas. |
| Wage-weighted H-1B lottery | In effect | Effective 2026-02-27 | Used since the FY2027 registration (March 2026); higher wage levels have better odds. |
| $100,000 H-1B payment | Blocked by court | Paused under a court order | A court vacated the implementing guidance on 2026-06-08, so it is not being collected; the proclamation now runs to 2027-09-21 and USCIS plans to collect if the order is lifted. It applies only to new petitions for people outside the U.S. |
| Fixed admission periods for F-1 (ending D/S) | Blocked by court | Stayed by a court 2026-09-14 | Was to take effect 2026-09-15 but was stayed; the government has appealed. D/S and the 60-day grace period still apply. |
| Proposed OPT fees | Proposed | Proposed 2026-10-08; comments until 11-09 | $70,000 per student for initial OPT and $30,000 for STEM OPT, paid by schools. Proposal only; not in effect. |
| $250 visa integrity fee | Not yet | In law, not yet collected | Due when a nonimmigrant visa is issued and refundable after compliance; not yet on the State Department's fee page. |
Real experiences
Beijing B-1/B-2 slots are scarce, often later than the official estimate
Screenshots shared in mid-October show the earliest Beijing B-1/B-2 slots around March 2027, later than the official wait; Shanghai and Shenyang sometimes show no slots at all. F-1 appointments in Shanghai are relatively quick.
Forum: B-1/B-2 visitor →STEM students and workers often face 221(g) administrative processing
A crowd-sourced sample of F-1 cases shows a median of about 63 days, with nearly half still waiting and few clearances reported since 7 August; most cases involve STEM or biology fields and posts in mainland China. Law firms say most cases clear in 1 to 3 months and a few take six months or more, with no fixed timeline. Leave room in your travel plans.
Forum: 221(g) processing →From the forum
Related guides
Booking a U.S. Visa Interview in Mainland ChinaFilling Out the DS-160B-1/B-2 Tourist, Family-Visit and Business Visa Step by Step (Applicants in Mainland China)F-1 Student Visa Interview Step by Step (Applicants in Mainland China)221(g) Administrative Processing ("Check")214(b) Visa Refusals
Practice your visa interview
美签专家 (US Visa Interview Prep): talk with an AI visa officer like a video call, F1 in English and B1/B2 in Mandarin, then get a decision and feedback on every answer. The app is in Simplified Chinese.