Visa Renewal/CITIC Bank Drop-off Service

Repeat travelers to the United States may qualify to use the CITIC Bank Drop-off Visa Renewal Service to renew their visas.  This process allows qualifying applicants to apply for a new visa by submitting their visa application via CITIC bank. Using the service may eliminate the need to come to the Embassy. The use of the drop-off service does not guarantee visa issuance. The Embassy may in some cases, after reviewing an application submitted through CITIC Bank, require a person to appear in person for a visa interview at the Embassy.

Applicants may drop-off their visa application at China CITIC Bank, if they meet the following requirements:

• The previous visa must be currently valid, or must have expired within the last twelve months.
  
  
• The applicant must be applying for the exact same type of visa.
  
  
• The applicant must be applying in the place where they usually live.
  
  

• Most applicants whose visa application requires additional administrative processing time, or who have any previous visas with a “clearance received” date printed in the annotation area, may not use the drop-off service and should make an appointment to interview in-person. Applicants whose previous visa was annotated with "clearance received" may use the drop-off service only if they are applying for a visa for the exact same purpose as their last visa.  Such applicants include students returning to school to continue their study or research, and business travelers returning to the same place in the U.S. to conduct the same business as was indicated on their previous application.  Applicants whose previous visas have a “clearance received” date printed in the annotation area should submit all documents that were requested in support of the previous application. At a minimum, documentation should include a detailed resume, a detailed itinerary, and an invitation letter including a description of the purpose of travel.  In some cases, these applicants may still be asked to present at the Embassy for an interview.

Specific requirements may also apply to certain types of applicants:

• Applicants seeking to renew F, J, H and L visas must be returning to the same school, institution or workplace as was indicated on their previous visa application.  J visa holders must be applying under the same exchange visitor program number as their previous visas.
  
  
• F and J visa applicants returning to schools in the U.S. must submit their official transcripts of their coursework with their applications.
  
  
• For applicants going to the U.S. for a business purpose, it helps to provide a copy of the invitation, itinerary, and applicant’s résumé when submitting the application.
  
  

• C, D or C1D visa applicants are required to provide a current joining letter (original copy preferred) and photocopies of the following documents:
  
  If you have old Seafarer’s Passport and Seafarer’s Identity Document, please provide the following photocopies:

• Copy of pages 2-4 (biopage and observations) and 19-20 (amendments) of “Seafarer’s Passport”

• Copy of pages 1-3 (biopage and observations) and all used pages from beginning to present in “Seafarer’s Identity Document”

If you have new Seafarer’s Passport and Seafarer’s Identity Document, please provide the following photocopies:

• Copy of pages 1 (biopage and observations) and 32 (amendments) of “Seafarer’s Passport”

• Copy of pages 1-3 (biopage and observations) and all used pages from beginning to present in “Seafarer’s Identity Document”

• Public Affairs Passport holders may also use this service: ask the local foreign affairs office about the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Drop-off service.
  

Applicants who meet the requirements to use this service may go in person or send a representative to any participating China CITIC Bank branch during working hours with the necessary supporting documents, including the passport that contains the original of the applicant’s previous U.S. visa. 

At most locations, China CITIC Bank charges a non-refundable service fee of RMB 200.  The fee may be slightly higher in certain locations.  For more information about submitting visa applications at a local branch of China CITIC Bank, please visit their website or inquire at a Bank location near you.

Important Note - Fingerprint Reuse:

Applicants who meet the requirements to renew their visas through the CITIC Bank Drop-off Visa Renewal Service and who have already provided all 10 fingerprints to the Embassy may be exempt from coming to the Embassy again to be fingerprinted. Applicants who meet all of the above requirements and the following criteria are not required to come in-person for fingerprinting:

1. The applicant has come to the Embassy or Consulate for fingerprinting on or after November 15, 2007.

2. The applicant provided all 10 fingerprints (see example below).

Applicants who do not meet the above criteria must come into the Embassy to be fingerprinted.  Applicants must bring their CITIC bank receipts for admission to the Consular Section. They will not, however, be required to go through an interview. The use of the drop-off service does not guarantee visa issuance. Incomplete and/or inaccurate applications will be returned to the China CITIC Bank and the applicant will be required to appear for a visa interview at the Embassy or Consulate.