United States passport is a document issued by the United States of America to U.S. citizens and U.S. nationals for the purpose of international travel. Holders are protected by U.S. consular officials abroad. Passport issuance services are provided by the Bureau of Consular Affairs under the U.S. Department of State, which operates numerous offices and agencies throughout the United States. For passport applications submitted by citizens overseas, they are forwarded to the passport center by local U.S. embassies or consulates.
Many new immigrants from mainland China who move to the U.S. solely to hold a Green Card and enjoy freedom of travel between the United States and China often hope to apply for U.S. citizenship after a few years. A significant reason for this is the premier global privilege enjoyed by the U.S. passport—visa-free access to over 150 countries worldwide.
The countries that Chinese citizens typically need to visit for tourism, family visits, or business are largely included on the U.S. passport visa-free list. In contrast, those holding Chinese passports currently need to apply for visas or entry permits for travel to almost any country in the world, including China's own special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau. Beyond the costs and waiting times associated with applying for visas to various countries, applicants must also endure a series of hassles such as preparing invitation letters and financial guarantees, the requirement to book flights and hotels before the visa is even approved, and the financial losses resulting from potential changes to flight tickets or itineraries caused by these complications—all of which lead to much frustration for many Chinese citizens. Although China's national strength is growing daily, the objective reality that cannot be changed for at least several decades—due to China's large population and significant wealth gap—means that the “status” of the Chinese passport is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future.
In the 21st century, as global exchanges become increasingly frequent and the world has become like a small village, who would not want to hold a passport that offers freedom of movement without the obstruction of visas? Currently, approximately 186 countries and regions grant visa-free or visa-on-arrival status to ordinary U.S. passport holders, with 150 countries and regions allowing visa-free entry.