Information for AMT members:
All Chinese nationals wishing to visit the U.S. require a visa. To obtain a visa, Chinese nationals must appear in person at the appropriate U.S. Consulate for an applicant interview. The interview, which may be as brief as two to three minutes, plays a critical part in determining whether the applicant will be issued a visa.
The U.S. Visa sections are very concerned about ongoing issues of fraudulent visa requests that have included altered or forged Letters of Invitation from American companies. To assist AMT members in obtaining visas for Chinese employees and/or customers needing to travel to the U.S. for valid business purposes, AMT has established the following Letter of Invitation (LOI) process:
AMT will confirm the applicant’s company, position and purpose of his or her visit. AMT will then issue an invitation letter that you can send with your personal invitation to the visitor prior to his visa interview. This letter will establish your company’s relationship with AMT, and it will incorporate several security measures suggested by the U.S. Embassies in China in order to prevent unauthorized counterfeit of the letter.
These security measures include:
- Printing the letter on special paper that is rendered void if copied, scanned, or faxed
- Imprinting the letter with AMT’s corporate seal
- Signing the letter in blue ink by the President or Vice President-Business Development
- Assigning the letter a serial number
- Forwarding a list of those to whom letters are issued to U.S. Embassy representatives in China
AMT has compiled a list of questions for visa applicants as well as a list of items they should bring with them to their visa interviews in order to better prepare them for the meeting. In addition, applicants can schedule meetings with AMT representatives in China who can explain the process and help them know what to expect at their interview at the U.S. Embassy.
AMT strongly recommends that you involve us in the process of requesting a visa for Chinese nationals to visit the U.S. AMT has worked with the U.S. Embassies in China in order to improve a legitimate visitor’s likelihood of being granted a U.S. visa.
If you will be inviting someone from China to visit your location or do business on a short-term basis, contact Sarah Bowen at (703) 827-5217 or sbowen@AMTonline.org to begin the process of requesting a visa and improve the likelihood that the visa will be granted.
For non-members or for more information:
U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Visa Services
Public Inquiries Division
China Bus. Tel: 202-663-3198
Public Inq. Tel: 202-663-1225
Fax: 202-663-3899
Internet Addresses: Sources of visa information – for foreign citizens to come to the United States:
Consular Affairs
Visa Services (for Foreigners to Come to the U.S.)
Visitor Visas
Visitors: Important Information You Need to Know
Visa Wait Times (New)
Visa Waiver Program
Key officers overseas
Contact U.S. Embassies/Consulates Abroad
Contact China – U.S. Embassy/Consulates
U.S. Embassy Beijing
U.S. Consulates:
Chengdu
Guangzhou
Shanghai
Shenyang
U.S. Department of State Contact Information
China Business Travel:
Tel: 202-663-3198
Email: BusinessVisa@state.gov
The US-China Business Visa Initiative assists businesses in the United States by explaining the visa process when they invite current and prospective Chinese business clients and partners to the United States. This effort involves providing information to U.S. companies about the visa process for visitor visa (B-1) applicants seeking to travel from China to the U.S. for business purposes. The business visa group will work with both the companies and the consular officers to communicate information effectively between U.S businesses and the Embassy and four Consulates in China.
Visa public information:
Tel.: 202-663-1225
General visa information via taped messages, with an option to speak with an officer. Information is also available on all types of visas on the Visa Services website.
Department of Homeland Security Contact Information
Department of Homeland Security
USCIS (Citizenship & Immigration Services, formerly INS)
USCIS National Customer Service Center - Tel.: (800) 375-5283
USCBP (Customs and Border Protection)
US-VISIT
