Press Releases

Electronic Visa Application Form Required as of January 1, 2006

December 8, 2005

Effective January 1, 2006, the U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai will require all applications (DS-156) for nonimmigrant visas to be submitted using the Electronic Visa Application Form found on the internet at http://evisaforms.state.gov/ . By requiring all applicants to use this form, the Consular Section will be able to provide faster service for all applicants.

The website is very easy to use. After completing the form online, applicants must print out the form to submit to the Consular Section at the time of the visa interview. No personal information is recorded or submitted online.

Many travel agencies provide assistance in preparing the online form for a modest fee. If an applicant receives assistance in preparing an Electronic Visa Application Form or any other visa application form, the person providing assistance must also sign the application form. Every applicant must sign his or her application and will be held responsible for the accuracy of the information submitted.

The Electronic Visa Application Form is to be completed in English. No non-English characters may be entered online. From January 1, 2006, the Consular Section will no longer require duplicate applications completed in Chinese.

Detailed Instructions
Please see detailed instructions below and on the website of the U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai.

After printing out the completed visa form, applicants with Chinese passports must hand write in some information in Chinese in the spaces already including the same information in English. The following questions require additional information in Chinese:

6. Surname: Write your name in Chinese characters and the Chinese telecode for your name.

7. First and middle name: Write your first and middle names in Chinese characters and write the Chinese telecodes for your first and middle names.

8. Other surnames used: Write the Chinese character for any other surnames you use.

9. Other first and middle names used: Write the Chinese character for any other first and middle names you use.

15. Home address: Write your home address in Chinese characters.

20. Name and address of Present Employer or School: Write the name and address of your present employer or school in Chinese characters.

21. Present occupation: Write your present occupation in Chinese characters.