China at a glance
| Visit with an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) | No: a visitor visa is needed |
| E-1 treaty trader visa | Not available |
| E-2 treaty investor visa | Not available |
| Own line in the Visa Bulletin | Yes: some categories move more slowly |
| Green card lottery (last published list, DV-2026) | Not eligible |
| Entry restrictions | None |
| Temporary Protected Status (TPS) | Not designated |
| Where visas are processed | U.S. Embassy Beijing and Consulates in Guangzhou, Shanghai and Shenyang. Immigrant visas for China are processed only in Guangzhou. |
Green card lottery: registration for DV-2027 had not opened as of mid-October 2026. A federal court ordered the State Department to open it, and that order may be appealed.
What is specific to China right now
- People born in mainland China have their own line in the Visa Bulletin, so some family and employment green card categories move more slowly than for most countries.
- Student and researcher visa applicants from China faced heightened screening in 2025. There is no country-wide visa ban.
- Mainland China has no E-1/E-2 treaty (the treaty list covers Taiwan only).
Common U.S. immigration paths for people from China
F-1 student visaStudy at a U.S. college, university or language schoolH-1B visaWork visa for specialty jobs, sponsored by a U.S. employerEB-5 investorGreen card through investment that creates U.S. jobsEB-1A green cardSelf-petition green card for extraordinary abilityEB-2 NIWSelf-petition green card if your work benefits the U.S.Family petitionSponsor children, adult sons and daughters, or siblingsL-1 visaTransfer to a U.S. office of your multinational employer
How MyUSVisa helps
- Answer a guided questionnaire in your language and upload your documents once — we read, sort and assemble them into a clear case file and timeline.
- Your organized case is offered to licensed U.S. immigration attorneys who handle this type of case. Interested attorneys send you offers, and you compare and choose — or don't.
- Once you choose, you and your attorney work in one place: messages, documents, deadlines and automatic USCIS status updates, on the web and in the mobile app.
Frequently asked questions
Can people from China visit the U.S. with an ESTA?
No. China is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so a visitor visa (B-1/B-2) from a U.S. embassy or consulate is usually needed.
Can people from China get an E-2 investor visa?
Not on China nationality alone: there is no E-2 treaty between China and the United States. Some people qualify through a second nationality from a treaty country, or use other paths such as EB-5.
Can people from China enter the green card lottery?
China was not eligible in the last published program (DV-2026). Eligibility is set again every year, and someone born in China may still qualify through a spouse born in an eligible country.
Where do people from China have their visa interview?
U.S. Embassy Beijing and Consulates in Guangzhou, Shanghai and Shenyang. Immigrant visas for China are processed only in Guangzhou.
Can I work with a U.S. attorney while I am still in China?
Yes. MyUSVisa works online: you tell your story from anywhere, licensed U.S. immigration attorneys review it and send proposals, and you choose. This works before you travel or once you are already in the United States.
More countries in Asia
Last checked by the MyUSVisa team and counsel in October 2026. Country rules change often, especially entry restrictions, TPS and parole programs. Always verify on travel.state.gov and uscis.gov, or ask your attorney.
MyUSVisa is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency.