State Department Eliminates Two Interview Locations in China for H and L Visas

Starting on March 1, 2019, H visa and L visa interviews in Mainland China will only be conducted at the U.S. embassy in Beijing, the U.S. consulate in Guangzhou, and the U.S. consulate in Shanghai. Interviews for these visas will no longer be held at the U.S. consulates in Chengdu and Shenyang. The State Department has explained that reducing the interview locations down to three will consolidate the resources and expertise for the large H and L workload they receive. Applicants in Mainland China should expect longer wait times for visa interviews as the three remaining posts receive the workload of the previous two.

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that permits a company to hire workers in specialty occupations.  This visa category requires that the beneficiary (the foreign worker) have a Bachelor’s degree, and the Petitioner (the U.S. company) can employ the worker for up to six years.  This is a very popular visa because unlike many other non-immigrant visas that make applying for a green card very difficult and require foreign workers to maintain a residence in their home country, the H-1B visa permits for “dual intent.”  This dual intent allows one to apply for a green card while in the U.S. without running into problems.To learn more about the H-1B visa and your eligibility, please click here.

The L nonimmigrant classification permits a U.S. employer to transfer an executive, manager or specialized knowledge employee from one of its affiliated foreign offices to one of its offices in the United States. The U.S. company must have a qualifying relationship with the company abroad, such as a parent, subsidiary, affiliate or branch office relationship. To learn more about the L-1 visa, please click here.