US Embassy to Simplify Chinese Visas

Beginning today, the US embassy in China will implement new visa policies which will dramatically increase processing capabilities for non-immigrant visa applicants. This could result in as many as 150-thousand new visas per year, up 50% from the current number. The plan involves setting up 50 new consular offices throughout China. The embassy is also planning on waiving interviews for qualified applicants renewing their visas. New applicants however, or those seeking to change their visa type, will still have to go through the interview process. According to the US embassy, they processed one million non-immigrant visa applications in China last year. The new visa policies, which will also be implemented in Brazil, come with President Barack Obama’s push for increased tourism to the US.