General Information about Applying for a Non-immigrant Visa

Welcome to the Consulate's Non-Immigrant Visa Section. On these pages you will find general information about non-immigrant visas to the United States, as well as certain information specific to the Consulate and our Consular District.

Consular Districts

How to make an appointment

All applicants, both private and official passport holder, need to contact the Visa Information Call Center to make an interview appointment.

Visa Information Call Center

The Visa Information Call Center provides non-immigrant and immigrant visa-related information to visa applicants and schedules non-immigrant visa interview appointments for the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and the U.S. Consulates General in Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Shenyang. The Visa Information Call Center reopened on June 3, 2004.

Application Requirements

DS-156 Visa Application Form — All applicants applying for a visa with a Chinese passport must complete two DS-156 application forms, one in English and one in Chinese. Each form is two pages, and must be printed on the front and back of each sheet of paper. Only A-4 or 8.5 x 11 inch paper will be accepted.

DS-157 Supplemental Visa Application Form — All applicants 16 years of age and older must complete two DS-157 application forms, one in English and one in Chinese. Each form is one page, and must be printed on separate sheets of paper. Only A-4 or 8.5 x 11 inch paper will be accepted.

DS-158 Contact Information and Work History for Nonimmigrant Visa Applicant — All applicants applying for F (Student), J (Exchange Visitor) and M (Non-academic Student) visas, and their dependents (F-2, J-2 and M-2 visas), must complete two DS-158 application forms, on in English and one in Chinese. Each form is two pages, and must be printed on the front and back of each sheet of paper. Only A-4 or 8.5 x 11 inch paper will be accepted.

New Requirement for Nonimmigrant Visa Application Photos

• An unmounted full-face photo, taken within the past six months. A "full face" photo is one in which the applicant is facing the camera directly. The applicant should not be looking down or to either side, and the face should cover about 50 percent of the area of the photo.
  Although variations in hair styles and in head coverings make it difficult to rigorously define the term "face," in general, the head of the applicant, including both face and hair, should be shown from the crown of the head to the tip of the chin on top and bottom, and from hair line side-to-side. It is preferable that the ears be exposed. The key requirement is that the photographs clearly identify the applicant.
• The photograph should measure 2 inches square (roughly 50 mm square) with the head centered in the frame. The head (measured from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin) should measure between 1 inch to 1 3/8 inches (25 mm to 35 mm) with the eye level between 1 1/8 inch to 1 3/8 inches (28 mm and 35 mm) from the bottom of the photo.
• Photos must be in color and must be taken against a white or off-white background. Photos taken in front of busy, patterned, or dark backgrounds will not be accepted.
• Photos should be printed without borders.
• Photos should be stapled or glued to Form DS-156, Nonimmigrant Visa Application. If the photograph is stapled, the staples should be placed as far away as possible from the applicant's face.

The Sample Photo

Visa Application Fee

Expedited appointments

• Emergency medical treatment, for applicant as well as any persons desiring to travel in support (for example, parents caring for a child).
• Family emergency, such as death.
• Urgent business and official travel.
• Under certain circumstances students and exchange scholars who may require an additional clearance before starting their program.

Visa Processing Time (Pass back) Information

Information for People who have previously been issued a US Visa (Drop Box Service)

• The previous visa must be currently valid, or must have expired within the last 12 months.
• The applicant must be applying for the same type of visa at the US Consulate and Embassy where she/he is normally resident in China.
• Applications must be completely and accurately filled out. Any not completely filled out will be refused and the applicant will be required to appear for an interview.

• If you are seeking to renew an F, J or H visa you must be returning to the same institution, school or workplace as was indicated on your previous application.
• If you are renewing an F visa, please attach a copy of your current I-20 form to the application form.
• If you are renewing a J visa, please attach a copy of your DS-2019 form. For an H visa renewal, please attach a copy of the I-797 form.

Qualified applicants traveling on official (waiban) passports are also welcome to use this service.

The Interview

On the day of your interview please arrive at least 15 minutes before the scheduled time and line up at the sign in front of the Consulate. You should have with you your passport, your two completed application forms, 2 recent passport-size photos, the MRV fee receipt and any other documents your might wish to present to the Visa Officer during your interview.
Local and Consulate guards will check your name and information against the appointment lists provided to the Consulate by the Visa Information Call Center. Should you have any problems entering the Consulate around the scheduled interview time, please contact the Call Center (4008-872-333) or the Visa Section (024 2322-1198) so that staff can assist you in resolving any issues promptly.

You will need to pass through a security check before you will be allowed to enter the Consulate. Please note that certain items are not permitted in the Consulate, including laptop computers, handheld PDAs, mobile phones, cameras, other electronic devices, pocketknives, cigarettes cigarette lighters and liquids in cans and bottles.

Also, please note that smoking is not permitted on Consulate grounds.

Once you reach the Visa Section, please give your completed application forms, your passport and the visa application fee receipts to the Visa Section staff. Our staff will verify the information provided and ensure that all forms are filled in correctly and completely. They will also be able to answer any last minute questions about the application form.
You will then be asked to wait to have your fingerprints taken.

What type of visa do I need?

Please visit the sections below for information about different types of non-immigrant visas.

You should apply for this visa if your purpose is to travel to the U.S. for short-term, temporary business. Lawful B1 business-related activities include but are not limited to:

• Attending a scientific, educational, professional or business convention, conference or seminar;
• Giving a lecture;
• Doing independent research at a scientific or educational institution;
• Participating in a voluntary service program;
• Participating in a sporting event;
• Negotiating contracts;
• Attending short-term training;
• Consultations with suppliers and customers.

Tourism Visa
(B2)

We frequently receive questions from Chinese students, workers, and residents in the U.S. who want to know how their parents can qualify to receive visas to enter the U.S. for tourism (B2 or B1/B2 visas). In our experience, many of these applicants are eligible for visas, but a significant number overstay or fail to return.

In adjudicating visitor visa applications for parents of Chinese students, workers, and residents, our visa officers tend to focus on factors that help us determine whether the applicants possess compelling ties to China:

• If the applicants have traveled to the U.S. previously, how long did they stay? If they stayed longer than 6 months, did they have INS approval to do so? (Note: please have the applicants bring their INS extension approval notices to their interview).
• If the applicants have traveled to the U.S. previously, how long have they been back in China?
• How many children and grandchildren do the applicants have in China?
• Have the relatives in the U.S. ever returned to China to visit their families as is normal for foreign students, workers, and residents in the U.S.?
• Are the parents active professionally in China; if so, what is their income and the nature of their work?

The answers to these questions relate to whether applicants can fulfill the statutory requirement in Section 101 (a)(15)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to show that they have a permanent residence in a foreign country that they have no intention of abandoning. In other words, persons who are absent from China for periods of a year or so may have trouble showing that they possess social or professional obligations in China that are sufficiently powerful to ensure that they will go home following a temporary stay abroad. Applicants are advised to be ready to address these issues during their visa interviews.

Apart from the required documents, parents may also want to bring the following documents to their interview:

• Proof of their child's/children's current legal status in the U.S. (such as a copy of a visa, petition or green card);
• Copies of the original, as well as any subsequent U.S. visas issued to their child;
• Recent family photos showing parents together with their child;
• Proof of ability to pay for the travel;
• Personal papers proving strong ties to China, including but no limited to bank statements, letters confirming employment, work ID cards, evidence of property ownership, family registries (hukou), marriage certificates, family photos, proof of prior travel to the US or other countries.
• If in their professional lives your parents are or were active in science and technology-related fields, they may want to consider bringing a resume, in case a special clearance is required.

Often, older applicants do not understand why their applications to return to the U.S. a second time are denied, even though INS approved an extension of stay during their previous visit. Usually, these applicants stayed in the U.S. for a year or more and have been back in China only a short while. Under these circumstances, the applicants have great difficulty establishing that they have compelling social or professional obligations in China sufficient to ensure that they will return to China, thereby making them ineligible to receive another visa. Parents who find themselves in this situation may wish instead to invite their U.S. relatives to visit them here in China or reapply, once more time has passed and they are able to demonstrate better their ties to China.

Student Visa
(F1, M1 Visas)

F1 - visa for academic and language students
M1 - visa for vocational students

The "J" exchange visitor program is designed to promote the interchange of persons, knowledge and skills in the fields of education, arts and sciences. Participants include students at all academic levels; trainees obtaining on-the-job training with firms, institutions, and agencies; teachers of primary, secondary, and specialized schools; professors coming to teach or do research at U.S. institutions of higher learning; research scholars; professional trainees in the medical and related fields.

Visas for Temporary Work in the United States
(H, L, O, P, Q Visas)

Classifications
The Immigration and Nationality Act provides several categories of nonimmigrant visas for a person who wishes to work temporarily in the United States. There are annual numerical limits on some classifications, which are shown in parentheses.

• H-1B classification applies to persons in a specialty occupation, which requires the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge requiring completion of a specific course of higher education. This classification requires a labor attestation issued by the Secretary of Labor (65,000). This classification also applies to Government-to-Government research and development, or co-production projects administered by the Department of Defense (100);
• H-2A classification applies to temporary or seasonal agricultural workers;
• H-2B classification applies to temporary or seasonal nonagricultural workers. This classification requires a temporary labor certification issued by the Secretary of Labor (66,000);
• H-3 classification applies to trainees other than medical or academic. This classification also applies to practical training in the education of handicapped children (50);
• L classification applies to intra-company transferees who, within the three preceding years, have been employed abroad continuously for one year, and who will be employed by a branch, parent, affiliate, or subsidiary of that same employer in the U.S. in a managerial, executive, or specialized knowledge capacity;
• O-1 classification applies to persons who have extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics or extraordinary achievements in the motion picture and television field;
• O-2 classification applies to persons accompanying an O-1 alien to assist in an artistic or athletic performance for a specific event or performance;
• P-1 classification applies to individual or team athletes, or members of an entertainment group that are internationally recognized (25,000);
• P-2 classification applies to artists or entertainers who will perform under a reciprocal exchange program;
• P-3 classification applies to artists or entertainers who perform under a program that is culturally unique (same as P-1); and
• Q-1 classification applies to participants in an international cultural exchange program for the purpose of providing practical training, employment, and the sharing of the history, culture, and traditions of the alien's home country.

Required Documentation:

Visas for Dependents
(F-2, J-2, L-2, H-4 Visas)

To obtain a visa to join a spouse or parent for a short-term stay in the United States, the applicant must be able to demonstrate that he or she is the spouse or minor child of an F-1, J-1, M-1, H-1, H-2, or L-1 visa holder who wishes to enter the United States solely to accompany, visit or follow to join the principal visa holder.

Visa Specific Information:

• The F-2 visa is intended for dependents of students (F-1).
• The J-2 visa is intended for dependents of exchange visitors (J-1).
• The M-2 visa is intended for dependents of students at vocational or other recognized non-academic institutions (M-1).
• The H-4 visa is intended for dependents of temporary workers (H).
• The L-2 visa is intended for dependents of intra-company transfers (L).

Documentation
In addition to the required documentation you and your dependents should also bring the following to the interview:

• Original marriage certificates;
• Original birth certificates and any other original documents issued at the time of birth, e.g., single child pass, vaccination and health certificates;
• Photos documenting the family relationship over time;
• Each F2 applicant needs to bring his/her own I-20 form and a SEVIS fee receipt, if the I-20 was issued after 1 September 2004;
• Each J2 applicant needs to bring his/her own DS-2019 form and a SEVIS fee receipt;
• Petition-based dependents (H4, L2) need to bring the principal applicant's I-797 form.

• Documentation that establishes the visa status of the principal applicant, such as photocopies of the passport, issued visa, and I-20, DS-2019 or I-797 of the principal applicant.
• Evidence that the principal visa holder has sufficient funds available to support any dependents, without the family member becoming a public charge or taking unauthorized employment while in the United States.

U.S. Visas for Press and Broadcast Media
( I visa)

Press and broadcast media require different types of nonimmigrant visas depending on the purpose of travel.

• Employees of magazines, newspapers, television and radio networks, and other media organizations who will go to the U.S. in order to report on actual current events as they occur and develop can be issued I (Media Representative) visas. No petition is required, although evidence that the applicant is an accredited media representative must be presented.



• Media representatives who will travel to the U.S. in order to participate in the production of artistic media content (in which actors are used) require a petition approved in advance by INS before applying for visas. Depending on circumstances, H or P classification is most common for this type of activity, but O, L, and Q petitions may be appropriate in some circumstances. Television, radio, and film production companies may wish to seek expert counsel from an immigration attorney who specializes in media work for specific advice tailored to the project at hand.



• Media representatives going to the U.S. to attend meetings as ordinary participants or to purchase or sell media equipment or broadcast rights are considered ordinary business visitors and can travel using B-class visitor visas.

Transit Visas
(C visa)

Transit visas are needed by those planning to proceed in immediate and continuous transit through the U.S. en route to their final destination.

Required documentation for a C visa application:

• Two completed application DS-156 and DS-157 forms each, one to be completed in Chinese, one in English;
• Two recent 2X2 inches color photos;
• Both the original and the copy of the CITIC Bank MRV fee receipt.

• A visa to their destination country;
• Documents explaining the purpose of their visit;
• Evidence that they will either return to their home country or remain permanently in a country other than the United States;
• Applicants may provide flight details if they have made ticket reservations.

Advice for U.S. Companies and Businesses regarding Non-immigrant Visas

American companies often wish to invite Chinese business partners or customers to the United States for meetings, contract negotiations, equipment inspection purchase or other business related activities.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit an invitation letter from the U.S. Company at the time of application. For the sake of your applicants and your company's credibility, the letter should be neat, accurate, and credible, and should be signed by a company employee who will be responsible for the visit.
Business invitation letters should include the names, dates of birth, and passport numbers of each individual who has been invited by your company. Your letter should also include contact information (phone, fax, e-mail) for your company in case the interviewing officer has further questions.

Any materials you wish the officer to see when making a decision should be given directly to the applicant to be presented at the time of interview. Each applicant or group of applicants must present his/her/their own application materials. If a particular document has not been given to the applicant(s) to present to the officer at the time of interview, assume the officer has not seen it.

The Consulate does not have sufficient resources to meet with every interested party who wishes to discuss specific visa cases, and we therefore do not schedule meetings for this purpose.

Question Hour
However, in order to afford American citizens the opportunity to speak directly to a Consular officer, an officer will be available Monday through Thursday afternoons between 5:00pm and 5:15pm.
General inquires and inquiries about specific cases will be entertained on a first-come first-served basis. All American citizens present during these fifteen minutes will have an opportunity to speak to a Consular Officer directly. No one is admitted after 5:15pm

Only American citizens will be allowed to take advantage of this opportunity. Citizens of other countries (including Legal Permanent Residents to the United States) will not be afforded this opportunity.

Written correspondence
American citizens may also send faxes and letters to the Consular Section to inquire about the issuance of non-immigrant visas. However, due to the extremely high volume of such correspondence, visa applicants should also bring copies of all relevant correspondence with them when they apply. Faxes and letters should be sufficiently detailed, and include the applicant's full names, dates of birth, and if applicable, the date of visa application.
Our fax number is: 024 2323-1465.

American citizens, who invite Chinese citizens to the US and wish to accompany them on the day to the interview, are kindly requested to remain in the main lobby of the Consulate during the interview. Please also note that Consular officers will not be available immediately after the interview to discuss the case due to the high volume of scheduled interviews. American citizens with questions are able to come to the Consulate between 5 and 5:15pm Monday through Thursday.

Reconsideration of visa refusals

How to contact us

The US Consulate General Shenyang is located at:
No. 52, 14th Wei Road Shenyang

Telephone: 024 2322-1198
Fax: 024 2323-1465

Frequently Asked Questions

Every alien shall be presumed to be an immigrant until he establishes to the satisfaction of the consular officer, at the time of application for a visa ...that he is entitled to a nonimmigrant status...

To qualify for a visitor or student visa, an applicant must satisfy this section of the U.S. immigration law. Neglect of this requirement necessarily results in a refusal of the visa under Section 214(b). To satisfy 214(b) the prospective visitor or student must prove that he possesses a residence abroad that he has no intent to abandon. An applicant shows the existence of such a "residence" by demonstrating ties to another country that would compel him to depart the U.S. at the end of a short stay. The law places the burden of proof entirely on the applicant. In other words, the law requires the consular officer to presume that you will not return to China on time, and it is up to you to prove that you must.

U.S. Embassy in Beijing Extends the Term of Validity for F-1/F-2, J-1/J-2, and M1/M2 Visas

Posted on June 14, 2005

The Embassy of the United States of America in Beijing is pleased to announce that beginning June 20, 2005, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates General in China, as well as U.S. embassies and consulates around the world, will begin issuing to qualified Chinese citizen applicants student visas (F-1/F-2), exchange visas (J-1/J-2), and vocational training visas (M1/M2) valid for 12 months with multiple entries. The previous maximum validity of U.S. visas for these purposes was six months, two entries.

On a reciprocal basis, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has similarly agreed beginning June 20 to issue to American citizens visiting China for student, academic exchange and vocational training purposes visas valid for 12 months and for multiple entries. While China and the U.S. will as a general rule issue maximum validity visas to each others’ qualified citizens, on a case by case basis each side may limit the period of validity and number of entries as required by their respective laws and regulations.

The Embassy believes this extension of visa reciprocity for students, following a similar expansion agreement in January 2005 on business and tourist visas, will significantly enhance mutual understanding between China and the United States. The longer validity will mean student travelers will not have to renew their visas so frequently, saving time and money and facilitating holiday visits home and emergency travel. This agreement is a sign of the United States’ continuing interest in attracting talented students from China and elsewhere to American campuses.

We are also pleased to announce that the volume of student applications and visas issued in 2005 has so far shown a marked increase compared to 2004.

• In May 2004, the U.S. Embassy and the four consulates in China issued 1518 F-1 (student) visas and 309 J-1 (exchange visitor) visas.
• In May 2005, the U.S. Embassy and the four consulates in China issued 2314 F-1 (student) visas and 617 J-1 (exchange visitor) visas.

U.S. Embassy in Beijing Extends the Term of Validity for B-1, B-2 Visas

Posted on Jan 7, 2005

The Embassy of the United States of America in Beijing is pleased to announce that beginning January 15, 2005, the U.S. embassy and four consulates in China, as well as U.S. embassies and consulates around the world, will begin issuing to otherwise qualified Chinese citizens, who wish to visit the United States temporarily for business (B-1) or pleasure (B-2), visas that are valid for 12 months and multiple entries. The previous maximum validity of U.S. visas for these purposes was six months.

On a reciprocal basis, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also agreed to issue to American citizens visiting China on temporary business and tourism visas valid for the same 12 months and for multiple entries. While China and the U.S. will in principle issue maximum validity visas to each others citizens, on a case by case basis each side may limit the period of validity and number of entries as required by law and regulation.

The U.S. Embassy and Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs exchanged diplomatic notes on this agreement in December 2004.

The Embassy believes this mutual extension of visa reciprocity will be a significant benefit to frequent travelers between China and the United States. The longer validity of visas means these frequent travelers will not have to renew their visas so frequently, saving time and money and making travel more convenient.

In 2004, the U.S. Embassy and four consulates in China issued 228,600 nonimmigrant visas. Of these, 173,140 or more than 77% were to visitors for temporary business (B-1) or tourism (B-2). The Embassy believes as many as one in ten of these travelers for temporary business or tourism visit the United States more than once a year.

Attention Student, Exchang Visitor Visa Applicants

SEVIS FEE IN EFFECT AFTER SEPTEMBER 1, 2004

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced implementation of the SEVIS (Student Exchange Visitor Information System) fee. Effective immediately, each student or exchange scholar issued an initial Form I-20 or DS-2019 on or after September 1, 2004, is responsible for paying this fee before applying for a visa. Persons sponsored by the United States Government are exempt from payment of the SEVIS fee. Most continuing students and exchange visitors will also not be required to pay the SEVIS fee.

Posted on March, 2004

On Monday, March 22, 2004, the United States Embassy in Beijing will begin collecting biometric identifiers, or fingerprints, for nonimmigrant visa applicants. This program was mandated by the United States Congress in Section 303 of the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002. Other United States Consulates General will also begin fingerprint collection within the next several weeks.

This law requires that, by October 26, 2004, the United States government shall issue to international visitors only machine-readable, tamper-resistant visas and other travel and entry documents that use biometric identifiers.?

These biometric visas will facilitate rapid and precise identification of travels, protecting the identity of the visitor while enabling more secure processing of travelers at ports of entry in the United States. The biometric will be checked at the port of entry in the United States to verify that the person presenting the visa is the same person who was issued the visa.

The two index fingers of a visa applicant will be electronically scanned in an inkless process at the beginning of the nonimmigrant visa interview. Collecting the fingerprints should add no more than one minute to the application process and in most cases will take only seconds. The electronic data from the fingerprints will be stored in a database and will be available to the Department of Homeland Security immigration officers at ports of entry in the United States.

This worldwide biometric enrollment program began in September 2003. As of today, there are more than 70 U.S. missions worldwide collecting biometrics for visa applicants, including several in Asia. All visa-issuing embassies and consulates will be doing this for visa applicants by October 26, 2004.

Applicants for U.S. visas between the ages of 14 and 80, except for diplomatic or government personnel traveling on official business, are required to be fingerprinted. This means that certain people who were previously eligible for a personal appearance waiver will now have to come to the Consulate to have their fingerprints collected. More information may be obtained and appointments should be made by calling our Visa Information Call Center at 4008-872-333 from within China (toll free), or from within China or overseas at (86-21) 3881-4611 (local Shanghai number).

How to have your fingerprints enrolled

1. Please wait for the officer's instructions.
2. When asked, place your right index finger in the middle of the red square and press
3. When asked, place your left index finger in the middle of the red square and press

Biometrics in U.S. Visas

Posted on March, 2004

Over the course of the next several months, the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and U.S. Consulates General in China will begin fingerprint scanning for most non-immigrant and immigrant visa applicants. The precise date of the implementation will depend at each post on the completion of technical preparations and the installation of the appropriate equipment.

Congress mandated the use of biometrics (fingerprint scanning) in visa issuance in the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002.

Fingerprint scanning has been successfully introduced in 63 consular sections so far, including Hong Kong. By October 26 of this year, all visa-issuing embassies and consulates worldwide will be required to collect fingerprint scans in connection with non-immigrant visa applications.

The Department of State is not singling out any particular country or mission for implementation. This security enhancement is intended as an important link in America’s overall plan to improve border security. It will also help ensure better security for all prospective visitors to the U.S.

The scanning itself is quick, unobtrusive, and will only add a few seconds to the application process. The two index fingers of a visa applicant will be scanned electronically during the consular officer’s interview with the applicant by placement of the fingers onto a small scanner at the interview window.

Scanning is inkless.

An applicant who refuses to be fingerprinted would have his or her application denied on the basis that it is incomplete. However, an applicant who then later decides to provide fingerprints would have his or her visa application considered without prejudice.

The following applicants are exempt:

• Children under 14
• Adults over 79
• A-1, A-2, G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, C-2, and C-3 category visa applicants (in general, these are foreign government officials traveling on official business, as well as some government representatives to international organizations, or those officials in transit through the U.S.)
• Individuals traveling to the U.S. for urgent medical treatment who cannot reasonably appear for fingerprinting

If an applicant is missing an index finger, another finger will be scanned. If an applicant has a temporary condition (e.g. cut or blister), they will be instructed to reapply when the index finger heals.

Fingerprint scanning at post is an essential link in US national security, because the prints will be compared with those collected at ports of entry. This will verify identity and reduce the use of stolen and counterfeit visas; it will also make travel to the US safer for all legitimate travelers.

The U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai is pleased to announce a new online visa application form (the English DS-156) that will save time for applicants and our Consular Section staff. The new online form contains a bar code which will allow us to electronically transfer data and therefore reduce waiting time during the visa application process. As of February 9, 2004, we will give priority in visa application submission and interview order to those applicants who present the new bar-coded forms with their application packages.

Posted on September, 2003

Starting October 1, 2003, nationals from the following countries will be required to have machine readable passports (MRP) if they are traveling to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program: Andorra, Belgium, Brunei, Liechtenstein and Slovenia.

Any traveler from the aforementioned countries without an MRP will be required to obtain a visa from a U.S. Embassy or Consulate before coming to the United States. The worldwide application fee for a visa to enter the United States is US $100. The MRP requirement applies to both adults and children.

The following countries have been given waivers of the MRP requirement until October 26, 2004: Australia, Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries are permitted to enter the United States for general business or tourist purposes for a maximum of 90 days without needing a visa. Countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program have long been required to have a program for the issuance of machine-readable passports, but the requirement mandated by the USA Patriot Act of 2001 makes the use of such a passport mandatory for visa-free entry after the designated date.

An MRP can generally be identified by the presence of two typeface lines printed at the bottom of the biographical page that can be read by machine. These lines electronically provide some of the information contained on the upper part of the biographical page. The MRP requirement applies to all categories of passport: regular, official or diplomatic. If a traveler has any doubt about whether a passport qualifies as machine-readable, he or she should check with the passport issuing authority for that country.

MRPs enhance security as they can be scanned at entry and exit points to verify the integrity of the passport data. Because machine-readable passports facilitate rapid and precise identification, they enable faster processing of travelers at ports of entry. They also provide for advance passenger information, so border inspectors can do much of their processing before a flight arrives.