The State Department announced last week that due to the coronavirus outbreak originating in Wuhan, China, the US Embassy and Consulates in China have canceled all immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments from February 3 through February 7 and the Embassy and Consulates are closed to the public to comply with Chinese government restrictions on large gatherings of people. The US Embassy and Consulates will resume routine visa services as soon as they are able but the State Department cannot provide a specific date at this time as to when they will re-open. Visa applicants who have paid the MRV fee should note that it is valid and may be used for a visa application in the country where it was purchased within one year of the date of payment. For those visa applicants in China who have received an email that their passport is ready for collection at the CITIC location chosen when scheduling the interview appointment, they should check if the CITIC branch is open. In case the location is not open and the traveler has an emergency, they should call the CITIC hotline at 95558 to coordinate passport pickup.
The State Department has also issued a Level 4 travel warning advising individuals that they should not travel to China due to the coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, China. The travel warning notes that most commercial air carriers have either reduced or suspended routes to and from China, and additionally Chinese authorities have suspended air, road, and rail travel around Wuhan. On January 23, 2020, the State Department ordered the departure of all non-emergency US personnel and their family members out of Wuhan, and on January 29, 2020, the State Department permitted the voluntary departure of non-emergency personnel and family members of US government employees from China. Subsequently, the State Department ordered the departure of all family members under age twenty-one of US personnel in China. If the situation deteriorates further, the US Embassy and Consulates in China may have limited ability to provide assistance to US nationals in China.
Additionally, President Trump has issued a presidential proclamation effective February 2, 2020, suspending entry of immigrant and nonimmigrant travelers who have been present in China, excluding Hong Kong and Macau, within fourteen days prior to their arrival at the port of entry in the US. The Department of Homeland Security also issued travel instructions specifying that US citizens who have been in the Hubei province within fourteen days are subject to mandatory quarantine upon their return to the US and that US citizens who have been in other areas of mainland China within fourteen days of return must undergo a health screening and up to fourteen days of self-quarantine. Additionally, the DHS has directed all flights from China and all passengers who have traveled to China within the last fourteen days to be routed through one of eleven designated airports for enhanced screening procedures. We will post updates as we receive them.
UPDATE FEBRUARY 26, 2020: Effective February 3, 2020, the US Embassy in Beijing and the US Consulates General in Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Shenyang have suspended regular visa services.