US ESTA Application

The Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) was introduced by the United States government in 2016 specifically for Chinese citizens. EVUS allows travelers to update their personal, passport, and employment information linked to their US visitor visa without applying for a new visa.

This system ensures that changes in circumstances, such as updated biographic details or employment information, can be reflected on the existing US visa, saving time and avoiding the need for a new visa application.

Who needs EVUS?
Registration with EVUS is mandatory for Chinese nationals holding a PRC passport who possess a 10-year B1/B2 US visa.

Steps to register for EVUS:

1. Obtain a valid B1 (business), B2 (tourism), or combined B1/B2 US visa from a US embassy or consulate.

2. Complete the online EVUS application, providing personal, passport, and travel details. This process only takes a few minutes.

3. Receive an approved EVUS travel authorization, which is electronically linked to your passport.

Validity and travel rules:

• EVUS is valid for 2 years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.

• The passport must remain valid for at least 6 months beyond the planned stay in the United States.

• The authorization allows multiple entries to the US during its validity.

Currently, EVUS is required only for PRC nationals, but the system may be expanded to other travelers in the future.

According to the US visa policy, citizens of around 150 countries must obtain a consular or embassy visa before traveling to the United States. Travelers from these countries must apply in advance at a US diplomatic office, regardless of the purpose or duration of their visit.

To apply for a US embassy visa, you typically need to:

1. Schedule a visa appointment at the nearest US embassy or consulate in your country of residence.

2. Print and complete the US visa application form before your appointment.

3. Indicate the type of visa required and provide the necessary supporting documents, which vary depending on the purpose of your visit (tourism, business, transit, work, study, etc.).

4. Pay the visa application fee as instructed by the embassy or consulate.

Applicants are advised to apply well in advance, as visa processing can take several weeks or more.

Countries whose citizens require a US embassy visa include:

• Afghanistan

• Albania

• Algeria

• Angola

• Anguilla

• Antigua and Barbuda

• Argentina

• Armenia

• Azerbaijan

• Bahrain

• Bangladesh

• Barbados

• Belarus

• Belize

• Benin

• Bhutan

• Bolivia

• Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Botswana

• Brazil

• Bulgaria

• Burkina Faso

• Burundi

• Cambodia

• Cameroon

• Cape Verde

• Cayman Islands

• Central African Republic

• Chad

• Cocos Islands

• Colombia

• Comoros

• Congo

• Costa Rica

• Cuba

• Democratic Republic of the Congo

• Djibouti

• Dominica

• Dominican Republic

• Ecuador

• Egypt

• El Salvador

• Equatorial Guinea

• Eritrea

• Ethiopia

• Fiji

• Gabon

• Gambia

• Georgia

• Ghana

• Gibraltar

• Grenada

• Guatemala

• Guinea

• Guinea Bissau

• Guyana

• Haiti

• Honduras

• Hong Kong

• India

• Indonesia

• Iran

• Iraq

• Ivory Coast

• Jamaica

• Jordan

• Kazakhstan

• Kenya

• Kiribati

• Kuwait

• Kyrgyzstan

• Laos

• Lebanon

• Lesotho

• Liberia

• Libya

• Macau

• Macedonia

• Madagascar

• Malawi

• Malaysia

• Maldives

• Mali

• Martinique

• Mauritania

• Mauritius

• Mayotte

• Mexico

• Moldova

• Mongolia

• Montenegro

• Morocco

• Mozambique

• Myanmar

• Namibia

• Nauru

• Nepal

• Nicaragua

• Niger

• Nigeria

• North Korea

• Oman

• Pakistan

• Palestinian Territory

• Panama

• Papua New Guinea

• Paraguay

• Peru

• Philippines

• Qatar

• Republic of Cyprus

• Romania

• Russian Federation

• Rwanda

• Saint Kitts and Nevis

• Saint Lucia

• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

• Samoa

• Sao Tome and Principe

• Saudi Arabia

• Senegal

• Serbia

• Seychelles

• Sierra Leone

• Solomon Islands

• Somalia

• South Africa

• South Sudan

• Sri Lanka

• Sudan

• Suriname

• Swaziland

• Syria

• Tajikistan

• Tanzania

• Thailand

• Timor Leste

• Togo

• Tonga

• Trinidad and Tobago

• Tunisia

• Turkey

• Turkmenistan

• Turks and Caicos Islands

• Tuvalu

• Uganda

• Ukraine

• United Arab Emirates

• Uruguay

• Uzbekistan

• Vanuatu

• Vatican City

• Venezuela

• Vietnam

• Wallis and Futuna

• Yemen

• Zambia

• Zimbabwe

Types of US visas
There are roughly 180 types of US visas, which fall into two main categories:

• Non-Immigrant Visas: Allow temporary stays for tourism, business, family visits, study, or short-term work.

• Immigrant Visas: For those intending to live permanently in the US. Immigrant visa holders are processed for a US Green Card (I-551) upon arrival, which serves as proof of permanent residence.

Special provisions apply for children entering on IR-3 or IH-3 immigrant visas, who are automatically granted US citizenship and issued a N-560 certificate of citizenship.

Only a small number of foreign nationals can enter the United States without a visa or an electronic travel authorization.

Some of these nationals enjoy unlimited visa-free access, allowing them to live, work, and study in the US indefinitely without a permit.

Other nationals, including Canadian citizens, do not generally need a visa to travel to the US. Canadians can work under special procedures, and may use alternative documents for entry such as:

• A NEXUS card for land or air entry

• An Enhanced Driver’s License when entering by land or sea

Although visa-exempt travelers do not need to present a visa at US ports of entry, admission may still be denied if they fall under standard immigration disqualifications, such as criminal convictions.

Countries with Visa-Free Access to the US:

• American Samoa

• Bahamas

• Bermuda

• Canada

• Federated States of Micronesia

• Guam

• Marshall Islands

• Palau

• Puerto Rico

• United States Virgin Islands

Other Visa Exemptions:
Apart from the nationalities above, some travelers can enter the US without a visa under specific conditions:

• Permanent residents of the USA

• Canadian citizens applying for non-immigrant TN status at the border

• Citizens of the 40 countries in the US Visa Waiver Program (must apply for ESTA)

• Holders of an I-512 “Authorization for Parole of an Alien into the United States”

• British Overseas Territories citizens with a connection to Bermuda

• Citizens of Compact of Free Association states: Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, or Palau

• British Overseas Territories citizens or citizens of The Bahamas with a connection to the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, or Turks and Caicos Islands, under certain conditions

Additionally, Mexican citizens may travel to the US without a visa or passport under limited circumstances if:

• They hold a valid Border Crossing Card

• They remain inside the designated border zone for no more than 72 hours

In 2017, the US government introduced a travel ban affecting several nationalities, which was later revised in 2018 and 2020. Travelers from the affected countries were unable to obtain visas or enter the United States.

This travel ban was lifted in 2021, and citizens of the seven previously restricted countries—North Korea, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen—can now apply for a US visa.

However, certain restrictions remain for visa-exempt travelers under the ESTA program. If you have visited the following countries, you lose ESTA eligibility and must apply for a US visa instead:

• Iraq

• Iran

• Libya

• Somalia

• Sudan

• Syria

• Yemen (visits since March 1, 2011)

• Cuba (visits since January 12, 2021)