U.S. Consulate General Chengdu announces
new Expedited Appointment Program for Business Visa Applicants!
We
are pleased to announce the implementation of our new Expedited
Visa Appointment Program for business visa applicants. As U.S.
businesses continue to invest in Southwest China and the volume
of trade increases between the U.S. and companies in the consular
district, we anticipate a growing need for business travel.
The U.S. Consulate wants to help facilitate and promote business
travel from China to the United States so we are unveiling our
new program for qualifying American Chamber of Commerce company
employees. If a company is a member of Sichuan
AmCham and has significant business interests in the U.S.,
then you may participate in this program. The program is simple
and allows a visa applicant to come to the Chengdu Consulate without
having to make an appointment through the China-wide call center.
If an applicant has a need to travel on short notice to the U.S.,
this program will assist in your visa application process.
Who can qualify?
If your company is a Sichuan
American Chamber of Commerce member and you
have significant business interests in the U.S., you may qualify
for the program. Only direct employees of the participating companies
may apply for a visa under the program (no distributors, customers,
family members, etc. are allowed to use the program).
How does one apply to join this program?
Please contact Sichuan
American Chamber of Commerce directly at
amcham@amcham-sichuan.org
if you believe your company qualifies and is interested in joining
this program.
Sichuan AmCham will
send your materials to us and the Consulate will verify that everything
is correct.
What types of visas can one apply for under this program?
The program is designed to facilitate business travel so only
employees of qualifying AmCham
companies going for business reasons may utilize the expedited
appointment program.
How does the program work?
The visa applicant first contacts AmCham
to request an expedited appointment letter. With this letter,
an applicant may appear at the Chengdu Consulate from 8:30 to
10:30 or at 13:00 from Monday to Thursday for a visa interview.
After an applicant enters the Consulate, s/he will give the appointment
letter and a letter from his/her company to the Consulate staff
member that accepts the application. The applicant will then wait
in the consular lobby for his/her name to be called for the interview.
Each applicant is allowed an appointment free interview but will
have to appear an interview prepared with his/her application
fee receipt, application, and supporting documents to indicate
the purpose of the trip and strong ties to China.
On the same day, the applicant or a designee will return at 16:00
to pick up his/her passport after issuance.
What is the goal of the program?
Our expedited appointment program is a method to expedite the
appointments of employees of Sichuan
AmCham company members. Apart from an expedited appointment,
the same requirements for U.S. visas hold true for Amcham members
as for other visa applicants. This program allows for visa applicants
to have an interview if their travel plans are within short notice.
The goal is to help facilitate business travel thereby helping
to promote bilateral trade relations.
|
