Multiple-entry 5 year visas for students.
By The American Bazaar Staff
WASHINGTON, DC: In a major immigration change, which is also targeted at boosting tourism and the education industry, starting from Wednesday, November 12, the United States and China will reciprocally increase the validity of short-term business and tourist visas and student and exchange visas issued to each other’s citizens.
Chinese applicants who qualify for a B-category nonimmigrant visa (NIV) may now be issued multiple-entry visas for up to 10 years for business and tourist travel.
Qualified Chinese students and exchange visitors and their dependents who qualify for F, M, or J-category visas are now eligible for multiple-entry visas valid for up to five years or the length of their program, according to the State Department.
Chinese nationals comprise the largest group of foreign students in the United States.
U.S. citizens eligible for Chinese short term business and tourist visas should also receive multiple-entry visas valid for up to 10 years, while qualified U.S. students may receive student residency permits valid up to five years, depending on the length of their educational program.
“The reciprocal extension of visa validity to 10 years for short-term business and tourist travel between China and the United States will increase travel and exchanges, enhance mutual understanding between our countries, and benefit our economies by increasing the ease of trade and investment,” said the State Department in a release.
Ten years is the longest visa validity possible under U.S. law.
This new arrangement will be more convenient and less costly for travelers. Prior to this, Chinese and American business travelers and tourists had to apply annually if visiting the United States or China each year.
Until now, many Chinese students who left the United States for short visits abroad were required to apply for new visas. Under the new arrangement, Chinese students will find it easier and more convenient to return home because in many cases they will not be required to obtain new visas prior to returning to the United States to study.
According to the State Department, more NIVs are processed in China than in any other country; applications processed in China represent more than 14 percent of all NIV applications worldwide. More than 1.95 million NIV applications were processed for Chinese nationals in fiscal year 2014. The US processed more than 316,000 student and exchange visitor visa applications in China in FY2014, a 12 percent increase over the previous fiscal year.
Also, student visas issued to Chinese nationals accounted for 16 percent of all types of U.S. visas issued in China. Student and exchange visitor visas issued to Chinese applicants represent 30 percent of all such visas issued worldwide.