STATE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCEMENT


VISA SERVICES IN CHINA

Revised May 20, 1999

Due to the damage incurred during the violent demonstrations last week and/or the need to evaluate and improve security procedures, the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and the consulates general in Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Shenyang are unable to accept or process nonimmigrant visa applications at this time.

The Embassy in Beijing and the consulates general in Guangzhou and Shanghai plan to resume nonimmigrant visa services during the week of May 24. Appointments will be required and must be requested by telephone as follows:

Beijing: effective now, call (010) 6532-2228 or 6532-5305

Guangzhou: effective now, call (020) 8184-6781

Shanghai: beginning May 24, call (021) 6471-1451

The Consulate General in Shenyang plans to resume nonimmigrant visa services in the near future, but is unable to do so at this time. More information on the status of that post's visa processing should be available the week of May 24. Nonimmigrant visa services at the Consulate General in Chengdu are suspended indefinitely. Chengdu-district applicants who hold diplomatic, service or public affairs' passports must have their applications submitted to the Embassy in Beijing through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Private passport holders must apply in person in Shanghai but only after requesting an appointment beginning May 20 from the Consulate General in Chengdu by calling (028) 555-2517. All immigrant visa services for China are provided by the Consulate General in Guangzhou. Immigrant visa processing resumed on May 17. Applicants who missed their scheduled interviews during the week have been rescheduled for the first week of June.