U.S. Visa Appointment Process:
I. Pay the SEVIS Fee
SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) is a system for managing information on students and exchange visitors. The SEVIS fee is a regulatory fee implemented by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security starting September 1, 2004. The fee is $200, and it is only required for those applying for J-1 exchange visitor visas (students or scholars). This fee serves as a management fund for exchange visitors in the United States. The system collects information on all students (F-1 or M-1 visas) and exchange visitors (J-1 visas) traveling to the United States. The SEVIS fee is paid to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which maintains a record of your information. You do not need to pay the SEVIS fee again unless you change schools.
● Website for paying the SEVIS fee: After receiving your I-20 form, first visit the following link: https://www.fmjfee.com/i901fee/desktop/index.jsp?view=desktop
● Select the first option: Submit I-901 form and pay online (using a dual-currency credit card) for $200.
● Print the confirmation page (if you cannot print it at the time, you may download and save it).
● You must bring the printed payment confirmation page on the day of your visa interview.
II. Completing the DS-160 Form (New versions may be released annually)
DS-160 Form link: https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/
● Before filling out the form, please prepare a 50mm*50mm color digital photo with a white background that is less than 240KB. Please upload the photo before completing the form.
● Please fill out the Chinese DS-160 information collection form in English before completing the online DS-160.
● After completion, please print the confirmation page containing your photo. You will receive a DS-160 information code, which is required when scheduling your visa appointment online.
● You must also bring the DS-160 confirmation page on the day of your visa interview.
III. Schedule Appointment Online: http://ustraveldocs.com/cn_zh/index.html?firstTime=No
● Upon entering the website, you must first register an account. During registration, the dynamic code below may not appear due to high website traffic. If this happens, please try again multiple times, check at different times, or use a different browser to successfully generate the dynamic code and complete registration.
● After entering your basic information and obtaining the CGI reference number, print it out to pay online or at a CITIC Bank branch.
● After payment, schedule your visa appointment online and print the appointment confirmation page.
● The appointment confirmation page must be printed and brought with you on the day of your visa interview.
Important Considerations for U.S. Visa Appointments:
1. Payment Eligibility: The SEVIS fee is for students or exchange visitors entering the United States. Therefore, if you are a student, you must be admitted by a school and receive the I-20 form issued by that school.
2. SEVIS Fee vs. Visa Fee: These are two separate fees. The SEVIS fee is $200 and is a student information maintenance fee, payable in USD. The visa fee is $160, payable to the U.S. Embassy during the visa application process, and must be converted into the equivalent amount in RMB for payment.
3. Payment Timing: It is generally recommended to pay at least 3 days before the visa interview, as the visa officer will verify the student's SEVIS status during the interview. If the system has not updated your status after payment, it may affect your visa application.
4. Exemptions: Accompanying dependents are not required to pay this fee. Students who already have a SEVIS ID and are changing programs (e.g., transferring schools or moving from an undergraduate to a master's program) can continue to use the same SEVIS ID as long as they notify their previous school of the new school they will be attending, and no additional fee is required.
5. Filling Tips: When filling out information on the webpage, try not to open other tabs, and do not click "back" or save bookmarks during the process.
6. Payment Methods: The $200 SEVIS fee can be paid via credit card or money order. Credit card payment is generally recommended for convenience and speed.