China → United States
Length of stay is determined by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at admission and shown in the admission record.
A mainland China ordinary passport alone does not give visa-free entry for short tourist or business visits to the United States; an appropriate U.S. visitor visa is generally required. Separate Guam/CNMI arrangements are not covered here.
Based on passport-specific data. · as of 2026-06-18
Official source ↗Documents that change the outcome
- Visa-free· us_green_card
A U.S. lawful permanent resident enters as a returning resident, not as a short-term visitor; the traveler should generally carry a valid Permanent Resident Card and applicable travel document. Long absences or possible abandonment of residence can affect return.
source ↗ - Visa-free· us_visa
A valid U.S. visa appropriate to the purpose of travel, such as B-1, B-2, or B-1/B-2, allows the traveler to seek admission; a visa does not guarantee entry, and CBP decides admission and length of stay at the port of entry. Chinese passport holders with 10-year B visas also need valid EVUS enrollment.
source ↗
Documents & how to apply
- Passport valid for travel to the United States — Generally valid for at least six months beyond the intended stay in the United States unless exempt by country-specific agreements.
- Form DS-160 nonimmigrant visa application confirmation page — Complete the DS-160 online and print the confirmation page to bring to the interview.
- Visa application fee payment receipt — Required if you are required to pay before the interview.
- Visa photo — Upload a photo while completing DS-160; if the upload fails, bring one printed photo meeting the photo requirements.
- Evidence of the purpose of the trip · optional — Additional documents may be requested to establish qualification.
- Evidence of intent to depart the United States after the trip · optional — Evidence of employment and/or family ties may be sufficient to show trip purpose and intent to return home.
- Evidence of ability to pay all costs of the trip · optional — If you cannot cover all trip costs, you may show evidence that another person will cover some or all costs.
- Letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support · optional — The official page states a letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support is not needed to apply for a visitor visa.
💳 185 USD (government fee) 📍 Complete Form DS-160 online through the U.S. Department of State CEAC system and schedule a visa interview following the instructions of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you apply.
Apply early because interview wait times vary by location, season, and visa category; do not make final travel plans or buy tickets until you have a visa.
Requirements vary by consulate — verify with the official source. official ↗
Common questions
Yes, the traveler may seek admission if the visa class matches the purpose, such as B-1/B-2 for short business or tourism. The visa itself does not guarantee entry; CBP makes the final decision at the port of entry. A 10-year B visa also requires valid EVUS enrollment for Chinese passport holders.
No sourced U.S. rule gives a U.S. visa waiver on that basis. U.S. visitor rules generally require foreign citizens to obtain a U.S. visa unless they qualify under U.S. rules such as the Visa Waiver Program, and Hong Kong SAR is not on the VWP list.
Usually no visa is required, but the traveler must meet Visa Waiver Program requirements and obtain valid ESTA before travel; VWP stays are 90 days or less.
No. APEC states that the United States is a transitional ABTC member and does not offer reciprocal entry arrangements; it only provides fast-track immigration processing at major international airports. Travelers must still meet the normal U.S. visa, VWP, or citizen/resident entry rules.
Verify with official sources
Visa policy changes without notice and this page is reference information that may contain errors. Before travel, verify via the official sources below or contact the destination country's embassy / consulate / immigration authority directly; final admission is at the destination government's discretion.