Requirements for Chinese Visiting States

[muyongshi]

Okay I know this has been asked before in various forms but requirements continually change and I'll be damned if I can go on to a government website and understand it enough to find out the info that I need.

A friend of mine is wanting to go to the states for approximately 3-4 months and has no desire to live there but to simply see what it is like (I know they all say that right but do take my word on this please). She is not my girlfriend/fiance/wife (but heck I wouldn't be upset if that were true).

What are the current requirements to get all the paperwork in order to go? What else can be done to push the process along? Does it help if my parents claimed responsibility for her in her time in the US?

Possibly relevant information: she lives in Chengdu, she has tried to go before to visit an uncle (blood relative) 3.5 years ago (2004) but was rejected and got a black stamp in her passport, she is currently working as a teacher's assistant in the top private school in Chengdu.

[simonlaing]

I think she does need help going there.

I've been doing some stuff trying to help Chinese tourists go there. If there is a US tourist company that can take responsibility then it is smooth. But it they want just rent a car and take themselves around they havea huge deposit they have to put in a bank in CHina that they only get back once they have returned from the US.

In any case I am not sure if they have tourist visas that last for 4 months.

Since 9/11 visas have been made more strict. There are some Consulate people who read this forum perhaps searching for them and PMing them could help, or they will just post on the thread.

have fun, Good luck

Simon:)

[muyongshi]

Well, her thought is more to visit mutual friends rather than to just go touring. Unfortunately not family so that may make it harder. I think the time is actually under 3 months (what are renewals like then as well????)

If there is any consulate workers that browse here I would appreciate whatever advice you could provide.

Thanks for the reply simon!

[Xiying]

If she has been rejected for a visa once, it is extremely likely that she will be rejected again. Having a relative in the US increases the likelihood of rejection (because it increases the likelihood that she will stay in America and not return - usually the sole criterion used in issuing visitor visas). Stuff that helps: property (real estate), job, immediate family members in China that will suggest she has much to lose if she does not return.

You may find more US embassy types at thebeijinger forums (I don't know if Chengdu has a similar expat forum) who have more direct and reliable knowledge than I do.

[rezaf]

Sometimes applying for visa in other countries works for us Iranians (most of the western countries reject our applications). Once I applied for the UK's visa in Shanghai and it was rejected after 3 weeks, a few days later I applied again in Dubai and got my visa in an hour. (Applying in Iran is like a joke. If you are lucky there is a chance that they give it to you after a few months!) I don't know the situation in China but maybe applying in Hong Kong works.<- (just an idea:wink:)