News & Announcements

Consular Sections at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, and Consulates Guangzhou and Shenyang will resume routine consular services on January 3. Consulate General Wuhan has resumed providing limited U.S. citizen services

On December 28, 2022, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that travelers who have physically been present in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), including Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau, within 10 days prior to travel will require a negative COVID-19 test result in order to board their flight to the U.S.

Based on an alert posted over the weekend by the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Mission China, effective December 15, 2022 the U.S. Embassy and Consular Offices in China have suspended all services, except those to handle emergencies for U.S. citizens, and has cancelled scheduled appointments.

On June 10, 2022, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that the order issued on December 2, 2021 requiring a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before being allowed to board a flight to the U.S. has been rescinded. Click on title for full details.

On April 21, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it will extend temporary Title 19 requirements and continue to require non-U.S. travelers entering the United States via land ports of entry and ferry terminals at the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide related proof of vaccination upon request. Click on title for full details.

On January 20, 2022, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (USDHS) announced that all non-U.S. citizens entering the U.S. via land and ferry terminal ports of entry from Canada or Mexico must provide proof of full vaccination for COVID-19. Click on title for full details.

On January 21, 2022, the U.S. Department of State announced that due to limited consular operations in Moscow, Russia that multiple posts have been designated for processing certain nonimmigrant visa applications for individuals residing in Russia. Click on title for full details.

On December 28, 2021, U.S. President Joseph Biden issued a Proclamation that revokes the prohibition on entry to the U.S. by non-U.S. citizens who had been physically present in 8 countries of Southern Africa (prohibition established by Presidential Proclamation 10315 on November 26, 2021). Click on title for full details.

On December 23, 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) announced that it has lifted the restrictions on “Non-Essential Travel” (e.g., for tourism purposes) for fully vaccinated individuals traveling through land and ferry ports-of-entry between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Click on title for full details.

On December 23, 2021, the U.S. Department of State announced that it has extended authorization to consular officers to waive the in-person interview requirement for certain nonimmigrant visa applicants – including for certain F, M, and academic J visa applicants. Click on title for full details.

On December 2, 2021, U.S. President Biden announced new actions to combat COVID-19, which included an update that all travelers to the U.S. must have proof of a negative COVID-19 test no more than 1 day prior to travel by air to the U.S. (as compared to 3 days prior to travel as was included in the original Presidential Proclamation effective November 8, 2021). Click on title for full details.

On November 26, 2021, U.S. President Biden issued a Proclamation that suspends boarding a flight and/or entry to the United States by non-U.S. citizens who have been physically present in any of the following countries within the immediately prior 14 days: Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi,  Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe. Click on title for full details.