Someone wrote in to ask if they could pay the fee at the branch in Nanjing, then bring the receipt to their interview in Shanghai.  The anser is yes, you may pay at any CITIC branch, just bring your receipt to the interview with you.

-Vice Consul

Visa Section Closed for Technical Problems 

Due to technical issues, all non-immigrant visa appointments at American Consulate General Shanghai on Wednesday March 17, 2010 have been canceled.

The Call Center will be contacting all applicants that have appointments scheduled for Wednesday March 17, 2010 to reschedule appointment times.

If you have an upcoming non-immigrant visa appointment please our website for updates. Updates will be posted to the site as information becomes available:

http://shanghai-ch.usembassy-china.org.cn/

We apologize for any inconvenience.

(Last updated: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 at 1115)

An applicant wrote in to ask about the “work history” section of the application, specifically for retirees.  If you have been retired for more than five years, please list your current occupation as “retired.” Then under “work history,” please write the last job you held, and list the dates you worked there.

-Vice Consul

A blogger wrote in to ask if invitation letters are still required.  An invitation letter is not required, but can help the consular officer understand your purpose of travel.  But please do not feel like you *have* to have an invitation letter and write one to yourself.  Many good applicants have found themselves in trouble because they wrote themselves an invitation letter and signed the name of their American contact at the bottom.  Under certain circumstances, this could be considered fraud, and in all circumstances will do you more harm than good.

-Vice Consul

A lot of people wonder what kind of documents they should bring to the interview.  The only documents that are required are your valid passport and your online DS-160 application form.  Fundamentally, the visa interview is just that — an interview.  The case is adjudicated on the basis of your responses to the officer’s questions.  In fact, many cases can be adjudicated without looking at any documents at all.

Of course, as an applicant you want to make the best case possible for yourself, so if you want to bring documents, think about the kinds of things that would support your answers in the interview.  For CVP members, a resume that describes your job duties and work history in detail is very helpful.  Another thing to bring is information about your educational history, such as what school you attended, what your major was, or any scientific or technical research you might have done. 

Some applicants require an Administrative Check, in which case, we will need a copy of your resume.  It is best to have one ready at the interview in case the interviewing officer asks to review it; otherwise, processing of your application may be delayed until your resume is reviewed.

-Vice Consul

A blogger asked if, while in the U.S. on a B-1/B-2 visa, he could leave the country to visit Canada and then come back with the same visa.  Generally, Chinese citizens are issued 1-year, multiple entry visas.  So during this period, you can enter and exit the United States as frequently as you like.  If your visa says Entries “M” then you have a multiple entry visa.  If your visa class is B-1/B-2, then you can enter the U.S. as a temporary visitor for both Business and Tourism purposes while the visa is still valid.

In some certain cases, especially work visas, the visa class only permits two entries, so it’s important to check what your visa says before you leave the country.  But by and large, multiple entries are permitted.

-Vice Consul

01.29.10 – 5:55PM    An applicant asked how to complete the “Other Names Used” field if the applicant has more than one name (for example, an alias or stage name).  In this case, use the  “add another” feature to enter additional names.  Please remember that any Given Name with two Chinese characters (for example, Li Yuxian) must be entered as one word and as two words.  For example, Li Yuxian must enter her Given Name first  as “Yuxian” and then as  “Yu Xian”.  If Li Yuxian sometimes uses Xu Yuxian, she must use “add another” to enter this additional name. Please see earlier blog entry for instructions on Western names. 

–Vice Consul

01.29.10 – 5:40PM    The online application is designed to adapt to different applicants’ situations. Some applicants are NOT required to provide previous work information and details on their educational background. Again, different people are asked different questions. Do not worry if you have not been asked these questions. (However, if you are asked these questions, you must complete the section completely and accurately. This means all jobs in the last five years and all education after elementary school.)

– Vice Consul

01.29.10 – 5:00PM    Please remember that you must enter travel information for your last five visits to the United States. If you have access to old passports, please make sure to enter travel dates and your visa number (8 digit, red number). If you do not have access to old passports, please do your best to provide approximate travel dates (for example, the month and year). Remember,  if your passport has ever been lost or stolen, you must answer “yes”  to the question “Have you ever lost a passport or had one stolen?”

– Vice Consul

01.29.10 – 4:05PM    One blogger asked if an applicant should list business contacts that they are traveling with even if the other travelers are not using the Corporate Visa Program (CVP) program to apply for a visa. The answer is yes. Always specify if you are part of a group or traveling with others in the “Travel Companion Information” section of the application.

– Vice Consul