If You have a Passport, You Can Apply for a U.S. Visa for Tourism
U.S. Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs
Maura Harty Tells Our Reporter
(February 15, 2007)

"If you have a passport, you can apply for a U.S. visa for tourism.  No invitation from the U.S., nor sponsorship from your friends or family members in the U.S., is required."

You may not believe these words if they were said by an ordinary person.  But you have to believe them when they are said by Ambassador Maura Harty, U.S. Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs – she is the number one consular official in the United States.

After concluding visits to Hong Kong and Shanghai, Ambassador Harty arrived in Beijing at noon on February 13 and had an exclusive interview with our reporter.

“I will soon have lunch with Amcham representatives, meet with officials of the Ministry of Foreign affairs and then return home tomorrow.  You are the first person I’m meeting with in Beijing,” she said.

The United States Welcomes Chinese Students

Reporter: I’ve read some of your speeches. I feel the message you wish to deliver is that the United States welcomes visitors from all over the world.  Why is the United States still open to the world after 9/11?  How does the US benefit from it?

Harty: Since the beginning of our history, the United States has believed that attracting and welcoming visitors and immigrants makes the United Sates stronger. Foreigners and immigrants have brought to the United States creativity, knowledge, wisdom and vitality.  This is why after 9/11, the United States continues to open its doors rather than to close them - because we respect our history, and we also respect diversity and creativity.  To put it briefly, the United States wants people to come visit our country and understand it.  To the United States, our best advertisement is the United States itself.  We therefore welcome all people, including tourists, students and businesspeople to the United States.  However, we will also protect the activities of legitimate visitors.  We think we should put security above all else and we will not sacrifice security for the sake of remaining open.

Reporter: Open doors and homeland security are sometimes contradictory.  You insist on open doors, and were once criticized in an article that you were putting the United States in danger.  What’s your comment on such criticism?

Harty: I have not read that article, but I have heard about it.  I want to have a chance to read the whole article, and then write a reply to the author.  I will tell him or her that maintaining open doors and protecting the safety of the homeland are not contradictory. They are the two sides of the coin and we need to do both.

There are many people entering the United States everyday.  Strengthened security is not only for Americans, but also for every visitor who comes to the United States. That is why we should have a strict process from the beginning on visa applications.  At the same time, we encourage people to visit the United States.  Otherwise, people will form their views of the United States through other channels.  We must maintain open doors and at the same time provide security.  We have been doing just that since 9/11.

I have not put the United States in danger.  I grew up in New York.  I saw the World Trade Center being completed while I grew up.  After 9/11, I saw the Pentagon burning from the window of my office, and - as all other Americans did – felt extremely concerned for the safety of the United States.  But I think to attract foreigners to the United States and to enable them to understand the United States is a kind of investment in our safety; only when people come to the United States can they understand the value of the United States.

Reporter: After 9/11, the number of foreign students coming to the United States dropped sharply.  Since you took office as Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs in 2002, you have been working hard to change this situation.  But a report from OECD at the end of 2006 showed that the United States’ share of the international student market has dropped by 3%.  How do you comment on your work since 2002?

Harty: Thank you for your appraisal of my work.  In fact, in 2006 the United States attracted more students than in previous years.  In 2006, there were 62,000 students from China alone studying in the United States.  In recent years, there has been active change in the trend of foreign students coming to the United States.  I would like to take this opportunity to tell people who see this report that the United States welcomes Chinese students.

Be Honest When You Apply For a Visa

Reporter: Beijing Youth Daily has a lot of high school and university readers, many of whom may want to study in the United States.  What would you say are the advantages of a U.S. education?

Harty: There are many advantages.  First, the United States provides high-quality education in general and has a history of welcoming foreign students.  Second, the United States has as many as 4000 universities with a wide variety of subjects.  Some universities are in big cities, and some are in small towns in the countryside.  You may choose a university in a small town to study if you want to save money, or choose state-owned universities.  Prior to study at a four-year university, students can also select a community college to attend for one or two years.

Not long ago, I went to a state-owned university in Miami, and I found out that there were students from over 70 countries studying there.  On the campuses of U.S. universities, you not only have the chance to develop an understanding of the United States, you can also understand people from all over the world - you are actually part of an international organization.

I think the experience of studying and living in the campuses of U.S. universities is unparalleled.

Reporter: But to students who wish to study in the US, visa issue has become a deep-rooted problem.

Harty: That is not true.  In fact, the approval rate of Chinese student visas has reached 85%.  The bad news of it being difficult to get a student visa is a thing of the past.  But in the world bad news unfortunately spreads faster than good news.

Reporter: Would you please give us some suggestions on how to successfully get a U.S. visa?

Harty: First you have to prepare for the interview.  Applicants should be able to tell the visa officer their goals in life and their study plans in the United States.  Most important is that applicants express to the visa officer how studying in the United States will help them to achieve their goals when they return to China.

I would also suggest that applicants visit the embassy’s website for detailed information on visas.  I strongly recommend that they take the time to read this information and prepare for their visa applications - by doing so they can become one of the 85% who are approved.

Reporter: According to our experience, honesty is very important.

Harty: That’s true.  This is the most important factor in applying for a visa. Do not lie!

No Invitation Letter Is Required

Reporter: An invitation letter is not required when you apply for a tourist visa.  Is that true?

Harty: Let me tell this to all your readers: To apply for a tourist visa to the United States, an invitation letter has never been required.  Anyone who has a Chinese passport can apply for a tourist visa to the United States.  It is not necessary for them to have friends or relatives in the United States, you do not need an official invitation from an American and there is no limit on the number of people entering the United States.  Chinese citizens are welcome to come to the United States as tourists.

Reporter: But the United States does not have an approved destination status (ADS) agreement with China.

Harty: You’re right. The United States does not have an ADS agreement with China.  In order to get a U.S. visa, applicants need to be interviewed and fingerprinted, but these requirements do not conform with a standard ADS agreement.  Therefore, ADS is not suitable for the United States.

I would like to make an advertising pitch here: There are many beautiful places in the United States.  Chinese tourists are welcome to tour the United States.  If you wish to travel, all they need to do to apply for visas is to schedule an interview at the embassy, fill out an application and bring their passports.

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