China: Reopening of U.S. Visa Application Offices  

Key Points 

• China has reopened select visa offices in the U.S. (Los Angeles, Washington D.C, Chicago, San Francisco and New York) 

Overview  

The government of China reopened select visa offices located throughout the United States (U.S.). These offices include locations in Los Angeles, Washington D.C, Chicago, San Francisco and New York. In order to secure an appointment, applicants must take the following steps: 

• Submit a visa application online through the China Online Visa Application (COVA) website and complete all required fields. During this time, the applicant will be required to make an in-person appointment. During this appointment, the COVA form will be submitted.  
• Applicants then must print out all COVA forms (8-9 pages) and sign the confirmation page. Applicants should also ensure that all required documents are in order.  

As of 25 January 2023, most Chinese visa options suspended the process of accepting visa applications submitted via email. However, the government will continue to process visa applications submitted prior to 20 January 2023.  

What are the Changes?  

The government of China reopened several visa application offices located throughout the U.S. As a result, visa applicants will no longer be permitted to submit applications via email and must instead make in-person appointments to obtain a valid visa.  

Looking Ahead  

Continue to check the government of China’s website and Envoy’s website for the latest updates and information.