Embassy of the United States Shanghai, China

New Online Application Required after March 1, 2010 for all Non-Immigrant Visa Applicants in Shanghai

As of March 1, 2010, all Non-Immigrant Visa applicants in the People's Republic Of China will need to complete an Online NIV Application Form (The "DS160") for their application for a US Non-Immigrant Visa. T

his page is designed to provide all the information necessary to correctly complete the New Online Application Form.

Please pay careful attention to the changes and requirements of the new application process. Incomplete or Incorrect Applications will not be accepted at our Consular Section, and in order to continue your application, you will have to complete a new, correct Online Application Form.

Please click the links below, in this order to understand the process.

Step 1: DETERMINE THE TYPE OF VISA YOU NEED

All applicants should determine the APPROPRIATE visa type and required documents prior to completing the online application for a non-immigrant visa.

We suggest that you print out a copy of the information for the type of visa in which you are making application. When completing the online NIV application, You will need to carefully select the correct visa class ("Purpose of travel"). Selecting the wrong visa class on the online application may result in your application not being accepted, in which case you will have to complete a new online application.

Please review the links below, and determine the type of visa you will need. We are currently updating our website information, so any reference to the previous "DS156", DS157, DS158 application forms is no longer applicable for applicants completing the new Online NIV Application. The information will open in a new browser window. If you are renewing your visa using our Frequent Traveler Program with CITIC Bank, you can only renew to obtain a new visa of the exact same visa type as your previous visa.

Once you have determined the correct visa class, please continue to Step 2: Prepare a Digital Photo for uploading to the Online Application or return to the top of this page.

B - Temporary Visitor for Business, Conferences, Trade Shows, Tourism, Family Visit, Medical Treatment

C1 - Transit directly through the United States.

C1D - Crewmember (Plane/Ship)

D - (Crewmembers)

F1 - Student (F1)

M1 - Vocational or Non-Academic Student, Flight Schools (M1)

F2 – Dependent Spouse and/or Child of F1

M2 - Dependent Spouse and/or Child of M1

J - Exchange Visitors (J1) and Dependents (J2)

J2 – Dependent Spouseand/or Child of J1

H - Temporary Workers (H1b), Trainee (H3)