Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I make an appointment?
• What if I need to do more than one thing? Can I do it all on the same day?
• What kinds of services require an appointment?
• Where can I find passport applications online?
• I have overstayed my visa in China. What do I do now?
• How can I get my nanny/ayi a visa to come with me to the U.S.?
• If I give up my green card, can I get a 5 or 10 year visa?
• I’m divorced but I have custody of my child. Why do I need my ex’s consent to renew my child’s passport?
• How many times can I add pages to my passport?
• Can I use a passport card to travel around China?
• How do I get Criminal Record checks for transferring a Chinese tourist visa to a work visa?
• Why do I need to bring my child’s birth certificate to renew his/her passport?

How do I make an appointment?

You can make an appointment online by clicking here.

What if I need to do more than one thing? Can I do it all on the same day?
 
You can receive more than one service on the same day, but please make an appointment for each separate service. You can find a list of services that require appointments here.

What kinds of services require an appointment?

The following services all require appointments:

• Obtaining a U.S. passport for minors and adults
• Adding visa pages to a U.S. passport
• Applying for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) and first U.S. passport for children
• Returning interviews to submit additional documents for a pending CRBA application
• Obtaining notarial services
• Completing a Marriage-ability Affidavit

Where can I find passport applications online?

You can fill out passport forms online using our passport wizard at https://pptform.state.gov/?Submit=COMPLETE+FORM+DS-4085+ONLINE

I have overstayed my visa in China. What do I do now?

You should contact the Entry and Exit Bureau immediately. Overstaying your Chinese visa will lead to fines of 500 RMB per day with a maximum of 5,000 RMB. Refusing to pay the fine can lead to imprisonment and deportation. The U.S. Consulate cannot extend your Chinese visa nor waive the fee for you.

How can I get my nanny/ayi a visa to come with me to the U.S.?

All nannies wishing to accompany their employer on a short visit to the U.S. need a non-immigrant visa. For more information on how to apply for non-immigrant visas, see the visa portion of our web-site. Click here for specific information about nannies.

If I give up my green card, can I get a 5 or 10 year visa?

Length of visa validity is based on reciprocity between individual countries and the United States. The current reciprocity agreement between the U.S. and China limits most visas to one year. There is no extra benefit for former Legal Permanent Residents. Also, please keep in mind that the act of giving up a green card does not prove a lack of immigrant intent in and of itself.

I’m divorced but I have custody of my child. Why do I need my ex’s consent to renew my child’s passport?

U.S. law requires both parents to consent to issue a passport to a child under age 16.

How many times can I add pages to my passport?

For the new electronic passports, we have discovered that adding more than two sets of extra pages can damage the binding and the chip. For older passports, we can add pages if the binding has not been compromised.

Can I use a passport card to travel around China?

No. The passport card can only be used for land travel between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

How do I get Criminal Record checks for transferring a Chinese tourist visa to a work visa?

The American Citizen Services Unit cannot perform a criminal records check for you, however, there are several options available to you. For more information on how to get a records check, please click here.

Why do I need to bring my child’s birth certificate to renew his/her passport?

Although your child’s passport is proof of his or her citizenship, renewing a child’s passport requires the consent of both parents. The easiest way to prove parentage is with a birth certificate or adoption record.