At the November 2014 summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) group in Beijing, President Obama announced a change in visa policy that will affect tourists, businesspeople and international students coming from China. In place of current policies which limit the validity of visas for visitors and students from China to one year, under the new policy, Consular Officers in China will have the authority to issue visas for business and tourism which are valid for up to ten years and visas for Chinese students that are valid for up to five years.
This does not mean that Chinese citizens can stay in the U.S. for five or ten years;it means that they can use the visas to seek admission to the U.S. over a more extended period. It also does not mean that Consular Officers are required to issue visas for up to five or ten years; it means that they have the authority to issue visas for the more extended period. It also does not reduce the authority of Consular Officers to deny an application or Immigration Inspectors to refuse entry to a person who is ineligible for admission to the U.S.
The change reflects social and economic changes in China, as well as changes in the bi-lateral relations between China and the U.S. It also reflects the fact that China is one of America’s largest trading partners and that Chinese students represent the largest single national group of international students in the U.S.
For more information on how to become an international student or for information on coming to the U.S. for business or tourism, click here.