B-2 visa prep for parents in China

The visitor visa (B-2) process for a parent applying in mainland China: what it costs, what to bring, who can skip the interview, and the EVUS step before every trip on a 10-year visa.

Government fees

Visa application fee (MRV)$185

$185 per applicant (non-petition nonimmigrant visa, incl. B-1/B-2). Non-refundable.

EVUS enrollment$31.75

Only for Chinese passports with a 10-year B visa, paid on EVUS.gov.

Visa integrity fee Unverified, check before relying on it$250

In the law, but not yet on the official fee page. Details below.

Checked against official pages on Oct 18, 2026. Fees change: confirm on travel.state.gov and EVUS.gov before paying.

The steps

1Fill in the DS-160 online
One per person, in English, with photo upload. Print the confirmation page. How to
2Pay the fee and book the interview
At an embassy or consulate in China. The State Department now says to schedule in the country of nationality or residence. Mission China instructions
3Gather the documents
Use the checklist below.
4Attend the interview (or the waiver drop-off)
Bring the originals; answer the officer’s questions yourself.
5Enroll in EVUS before flying (10-year visa)
Without a valid enrollment the airline will not issue a boarding pass. Enroll on EVUS.gov Details below

Expect long waits. Mission China says it can only process a fraction of its former visa volume and that wait times will increase. Check the current wait for each post on the official tool: Global Visa Wait Times

Can they skip the interview?

Since October 1, 2025, nearly everyone must interview in person, including applicants over 79. The B visa exception left is a renewal where all of these are true:

Renewing a B-1, B-2 or B1/B2 visa within 12 months of the old visa’s expiry
The old visa was issued for full validity (for Chinese citizens, the 10-year visa)
They were at least 18 when it was issued
Applying in their country of nationality or usual residence
Never refused a visa (unless the refusal was overcome or waived)
No apparent or potential ineligibility

Even if they qualify, the consular officer can still require an interview. Mission China also notes that applicants under 14 must now interview with a parent.

Official notice (Sept 18, 2025)

Document checklist

Tick items off as you prepare. Saved in this browser only.

Required by the State Department

0 / 4

Passport valid at least 6 months beyond the planned stayEach parent applies separately with their own passport and DS-160.
DS-160 confirmation page (printed, with barcode)Fill it in English at ceac.state.gov. Answers must match the passport and be truthful; the officer has it in front of them.
Photo uploaded in the DS-160 (bring one printed photo if the upload failed)Photo requirements
Visa fee paid ($185 each) and appointment confirmation

Supporting evidence (bring, show if asked)

0 / 5

Proof of ties in China: retirement certificate or pension statement, property certificate (房产证), hukou (户口本)The State Department says applicants qualify on their own ties to home, not on assurances from US family.
Proof they can pay for the trip: bank statements or deposit certificatesIf you pay, the State Department allows evidence that another person will cover some or all costs.
Trip purpose: who they visit, where they stay, a rough itinerary
Old passports with previous US visas, if anyCommonly brought; not on the State Department’s required list.
Invitation letter from you (optional)Not required, and not one of the factors used to decide. See the Invitation letter tab.

The State Department lists evidence of trip purpose, intent to depart, and ability to pay as examples of additional documents. The specific Chinese documents above are common examples of that evidence, not an official list.

Interview tips (for parents, in Chinese)

说真话，说简短。签证官一般只问几个问题，直接回答即可，不用背稿。
和 DS-160 一致。去看谁、住哪里、待多久、谁出钱，要和表上填的一样。
讲清楚为什么一定回国。退休金、房子、老家的亲人、身体检查和看病安排等，都是真实的约束力。

可以说中文。面谈可以用中文进行，听不清可以请签证官再说一遍。
材料带齐但别乱递。签证官要什么再给什么；邀请信不是必需品。
被拒不等于永远不行。214(b) 拒签后可以重新申请，但要先弄清楚哪里没说明白。

These tips are practical advice drawn from the official guidance (applicants qualify on their own ties; a letter is not needed). Interview language and 214(b) re-application details are general experience, not an official statement.

Where to apply in China

U.S. Embassy BeijingOfficial page
Consulate General ShanghaiOfficial page
Consulate General GuangzhouOfficial page
Consulate General ShenyangOfficial page
Consulate General WuhanOfficial page

We don’t show wait times here because they change every month. Use the State Department’s Global Visa Wait Times tool and pick the city.

EVUS: required before every trip on a 10-year visa

Who: People’s Republic of China passport holders with a 10-year B1/B2, B1 or B2 visa. Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and Taiwan passports are not covered.
Fee: $31.75 per enrollment, as shown on EVUS.gov on Oct 18, 2026. (The fee started at $30 on Sept 30, 2025 and is adjusted for inflation.)
Valid for: Two years, or until the visa or passport expires, whichever comes first. A new passport means a new enrollment.
Without it: No boarding pass, and no entry at a land border.
Language: Questions can be shown in Chinese, but answers must be in English.

You can enroll for them: CBP allows a relative or friend to submit the EVUS form on the traveler’s behalf (the traveler is responsible for its accuracy). Official site: www.evus.gov

Visa integrity fee Unverified, check before relying on it

$250 “visa integrity fee” enacted by Public Law 119-21 (July 2025), charged at visa issuance, indexed to inflation and cannot be waived. After the visa expires, DHS may refund it to visitors who followed the visa’s conditions and left no later than 5 days after their authorized stay ended. As of Oct 18, 2026 it is not listed on the State Department’s visa fee page, and we could not confirm on an official page that collection has started.

Read the law (PDF) · State Department fee page

Parents’ US Visit Helper