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Beijing · China

Visa issuances and wait times at the U.S. post in Beijing

Monthly tables Mar 2017 to Sep 2025 · 9th of 217 posts by nonimmigrant issuances in Sep 2025 · wait times read 1 Jul 2026

The reports below contain preliminary data which are subject to change. Beginning with FY 2020, individual monthly issuance reports should not be aggregated, as this will not provide an accurate issuance total for the fiscal year to date. Instead, refer to our annual Report of the Visa Office for final full Fiscal Year statistics. On wait times the Department says: "New appointments are added regularly, so you may get an appointment sooner" and "The average wait times we report do not guarantee a visa applicant will get an appointment within a specific time."

Beijing, China: 20,445 nonimmigrant visas issued in September 2025, up 18% on September 2024 (17,386).

The largest classes that month were B1/B2 (temporary visitor for business and pleasure) with 17,692, 86.5% of the post's issuances, C1/D (combined transit and crewmember visa) with 514, 2.5% of the post's issuances and H1B (temporary worker of distinguished merit and ability performing services other than as a registered nurse) with 494, 2.4% of the post's issuances. Among the 211 posts that issued B1/B2 visas in September 2025, Beijing ranks 7th by count; for F1 student visas it ranks 1st of 184.

The immigrant visa table for September 2025 lists no issuances for this post; many posts handle only nonimmigrant applications.

The Department publishes annual totals separately, in its Report of the Visa Office; this site does not add monthly reports together, so the month-by-month table below is read one month at a time.

The Department's Global Visa Wait Times table read on 1 Jul 2026 listed the next available appointment as 3 months for a visitor (B1/B2) interview, 4.5 months for students and exchange visitors (F, M, J) and 1.5 months for petition-based workers (H, L, O, P, Q). For visitor visas that is longer than the under ½ month listed about six months earlier (2 Dec 2025).

Appointment wait times

Visitor B1/B23 monthsnext available appointment; median post 1 month
Student F, M, J4.5 monthsnext available appointment; median post under ½ month
Worker H, L, O, P, Q1.5 monthsnext available appointment; median post under ½ month

under 2 months2 to 6 monthsover 6 monthsnot listedRead from the Department's table 1 Jul 2026.

20,445nonimmigrant visas, Sep 2025+18% vs Sep 2024 (17,386)
16,055nonimmigrant visas, Aug 2025+27% month on month
0immigrant visas, Sep 20250 in Sep 2024
2.48%share of worldwide nonimmigrant issuances, Sep 2025median post: 909 that month

The Department publishes annual totals separately, in its Report of the Visa Office; monthly reports are not summed on this site.

Monthly issuances by broad class, last 36 months

014,90829,816VisitorsStudents and exchange visitorsTemporary workersDiplomatic, official and international organisationTransit and crewOther nonimmigrant classesOct 2022Apr 2023Oct 2023Apr 2024Oct 2024Apr 2025Oct 2022: 1,670 (Visitors 1,003, Students and exchange visitors 326, Temporary workers 203, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 65, Transit and crew 73, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Nov 2022: 2,466 (Visitors 1,431, Students and exchange visitors 577, Temporary workers 298, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 68, Transit and crew 92, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Dec 2022: 1,109 (Visitors 514, Students and exchange visitors 329, Temporary workers 201, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 45, Transit and crew 20, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jan 2023: 6,146 (Visitors 4,084, Students and exchange visitors 988, Temporary workers 851, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 74, Transit and crew 149, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Feb 2023: 7,217 (Visitors 5,669, Students and exchange visitors 507, Temporary workers 590, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 191, Transit and crew 260, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Mar 2023: 19,421 (Visitors 17,286, Students and exchange visitors 625, Temporary workers 702, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 250, Transit and crew 558, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Apr 2023: 17,967 (Visitors 15,110, Students and exchange visitors 1,578, Temporary workers 784, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 181, Transit and crew 314, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)May 2023: 14,591 (Visitors 7,299, Students and exchange visitors 5,563, Temporary workers 1,145, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 174, Transit and crew 407, Other nonimmigrant classes 3)Jun 2023: 18,941 (Visitors 7,350, Students and exchange visitors 9,696, Temporary workers 1,437, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 208, Transit and crew 250, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jul 2023: 14,670 (Visitors 4,667, Students and exchange visitors 8,312, Temporary workers 1,260, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 209, Transit and crew 222, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Aug 2023: 16,462 (Visitors 8,370, Students and exchange visitors 5,824, Temporary workers 1,723, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 123, Transit and crew 422, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Sep 2023: 10,343 (Visitors 8,116, Students and exchange visitors 475, Temporary workers 1,151, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 224, Transit and crew 377, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Oct 2023: 10,906 (Visitors 8,124, Students and exchange visitors 659, Temporary workers 1,392, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 330, Transit and crew 401, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Nov 2023: 14,895 (Visitors 11,344, Students and exchange visitors 729, Temporary workers 2,072, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 449, Transit and crew 301, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Dec 2023: 15,390 (Visitors 10,213, Students and exchange visitors 2,542, Temporary workers 1,982, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 135, Transit and crew 518, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jan 2024: 21,444 (Visitors 17,715, Students and exchange visitors 1,228, Temporary workers 2,015, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 172, Transit and crew 314, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Feb 2024: 16,418 (Visitors 13,885, Students and exchange visitors 691, Temporary workers 1,398, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 117, Transit and crew 327, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Mar 2024: 22,939 (Visitors 20,369, Students and exchange visitors 789, Temporary workers 1,155, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 202, Transit and crew 424, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Apr 2024: 24,307 (Visitors 20,403, Students and exchange visitors 2,295, Temporary workers 1,060, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 200, Transit and crew 349, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)May 2024: 29,816 (Visitors 19,947, Students and exchange visitors 7,843, Temporary workers 1,439, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 201, Transit and crew 386, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jun 2024: 26,817 (Visitors 17,167, Students and exchange visitors 7,636, Temporary workers 1,483, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 153, Transit and crew 378, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jul 2024: 27,212 (Visitors 17,648, Students and exchange visitors 7,409, Temporary workers 1,577, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 132, Transit and crew 445, Other nonimmigrant classes 1)Aug 2024: 24,586 (Visitors 20,341, Students and exchange visitors 2,195, Temporary workers 1,511, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 157, Transit and crew 382, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Sep 2024: 17,386 (Visitors 14,322, Students and exchange visitors 881, Temporary workers 1,483, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 224, Transit and crew 476, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Oct 2024: 18,445 (Visitors 15,490, Students and exchange visitors 849, Temporary workers 1,448, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 120, Transit and crew 536, Other nonimmigrant classes 2)Nov 2024: 18,601 (Visitors 15,314, Students and exchange visitors 1,214, Temporary workers 1,577, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 111, Transit and crew 384, Other nonimmigrant classes 1)Dec 2024: 17,784 (Visitors 12,906, Students and exchange visitors 1,896, Temporary workers 2,542, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 145, Transit and crew 295, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jan 2025: 14,694 (Visitors 12,375, Students and exchange visitors 633, Temporary workers 1,328, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 130, Transit and crew 228, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Feb 2025: 22,049 (Visitors 19,880, Students and exchange visitors 713, Temporary workers 993, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 127, Transit and crew 335, Other nonimmigrant classes 1)Mar 2025: 25,372 (Visitors 22,905, Students and exchange visitors 1,081, Temporary workers 699, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 131, Transit and crew 556, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Apr 2025: 24,074 (Visitors 19,124, Students and exchange visitors 3,371, Temporary workers 971, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 135, Transit and crew 467, Other nonimmigrant classes 6)May 2025: 24,291 (Visitors 16,920, Students and exchange visitors 5,994, Temporary workers 963, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 100, Transit and crew 305, Other nonimmigrant classes 9)Jun 2025: 18,771 (Visitors 14,219, Students and exchange visitors 2,771, Temporary workers 1,284, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 126, Transit and crew 365, Other nonimmigrant classes 6)Jul 2025: 15,218 (Visitors 10,511, Students and exchange visitors 3,267, Temporary workers 1,029, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 99, Transit and crew 310, Other nonimmigrant classes 2)Aug 2025: 16,055 (Visitors 11,170, Students and exchange visitors 3,335, Temporary workers 1,067, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 119, Transit and crew 360, Other nonimmigrant classes 4)Sep 2025: 20,445 (Visitors 17,700, Students and exchange visitors 837, Temporary workers 1,147, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 242, Transit and crew 515, Other nonimmigrant classes 4)
Nonimmigrant visas issued at Beijing by month, stacked by broad class group.

VisitorsStudents and exchange visitorsTemporary workersDiplomatic, official and international organisationTransit and crewOther nonimmigrant classes

Groups follow the Department's visa symbols: visitors (B), students and exchange visitors (F, M, J), temporary workers (H, L, O, P, Q, E, R, TN, I), diplomatic and official (A, G, NATO), transit and crew (C, D), other. Hover a month for its counts. Each bar is one monthly report.

Compared with China and the world, September 2025

Sep 2025BeijingAll 6 posts in ChinaAll posts
Nonimmigrant visas issued20,44580,165823,557
Change on Sep 2024+18%—-11%
Immigrant visas issued01,11945,966
Visitors share86.6%—82.5%
Students and exchange visitors share4.1%—2.9%
Temporary workers share5.6%—9.4%
Diplomatic, official and international organisation share1.2%—2.1%
Transit and crew share2.5%—2.9%
Other nonimmigrant classes share0%—0.2%
B1/B2 next appointment3 months—median 1 month
F, M, J next appointment4.5 months—median under ½ month

All figures are from the September 2025 tables. The country column adds the posts located in China (Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang, Wuhan and Beijing) within that one month; it is not the count for nationals of China, which is on the China nationality page.

Visa classes issued, September 2025

ClassDescription (State Department)IssuedShareRank among posts
B1/B2Temporary visitor for business and pleasure17,69286.5%7 of 211
C1/DCombined transit and crewmember visa5142.5%7 of 171
H1BTemporary worker of distinguished merit and ability performing services other than as a registered nurse4942.4%4 of 163
F1Student in an academic or language training program4892.4%1 of 184
J1Exchange visitor2391.2%12 of 194
L1Intracompany transferee (executive, managerial, and specialized personnel continuing employment with international firm or corporation)2261.1%4 of 144
G2Other representative of recognized foreign member government to international organization, and immediate family1600.8%3 of 157
H4Spouse or child of H-1B/B1/C, H-2A/B, or H-31140.6%5 of 137
L2Spouse or child of intracompany transferee1010.5%11 of 133
J2Spouse or child of exchange visitor750.4%4 of 124
P3Artist or entertainer in a culturally unique program670.3%4 of 69
O2Person accompanying and assisting in the artistic or athletic performance by O-1420.2%4 of 83
IRepresentative of foreign information media, spouse and children400.2%5 of 119
O1Person with extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business or athletics340.2%9 of 132
F2Spouse or child of F1260.1%6 of 104
A1Ambassador, public minister, career diplomat or consular officer, or immediate family210.1%2 of 128
A2Other foreign government official or employee, or immediate family200.1%79 of 169
G4International organization officer or employee, and immediate family170.1%13 of 137
G3Representative of nonrecognized or nonmember foreign government to international organization, and immediate family140.1%2 of 5
G1Principal resident representative of recognized foreign government to international organization, staff, or immediate family90%2 of 57
O3Spouse or child of O-1 or O-290%14 of 84
M1Vocational student and other nonacademic student80%16 of 91
P1Internationally recognized athlete or member of internationally recognized entertainment group80%49 of 110
B2Temporary visitor for pleasure50%10 of 50
C4/D3Nonimmigrant visa class C4/D3 (no description in the Department's symbol list)40%8 of 19
B1Temporary visitor for business30%83 of 128
CW1Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands transitional worker30%3 of 6
E2Treaty investor, spouse or child30%47 of 68
Q1Participant in an international cultural exchange program30%15 of 27
TDSpouse or child of TN20%10 of 23
C1Alien in transit10%58 of 87
C3Foreign government official, immediate family, attendant, servant or personal employee, in transit10%41 of 49
R1Alien in a religious occupation10%61 of 96

Ranks are among posts in the same month's table. Earlier months are linked from the month-by-month table below.

Seasonality

Jan97
Feb49
Mar100
Apr110
May134
Jun128
Jul123
Aug111
Sep76
Oct74
Nov101
Dec90
Which months are busiest at Beijing. Index over 7 complete calendar years; 100 is an average month, darker is busier.

Wait-time history

074148202220232024202520264 Nov 2022: B1/B2 2 days; F/M/J 2; H/L/O/P/Q 31 Dec 2022: B1/B2 2 days; F/M/J 2; H/L/O/P/Q 317 Jan 2023: B1/B2 18 days; F/M/J 10; H/L/O/P/Q 141 Feb 2023: B1/B2 30 days; F/M/J 3; H/L/O/P/Q 86 Mar 2023: B1/B2 71 days; F/M/J 3; H/L/O/P/Q 817 Apr 2023: B1/B2 111 days; F/M/J 8; H/L/O/P/Q 259 Jun 2023: B1/B2 129 days; F/M/J 35; H/L/O/P/Q 5131 Jul 2023: B1/B2 148 days; F/M/J 25; H/L/O/P/Q 311 Aug 2023: B1/B2 148 days; F/M/J 25; H/L/O/P/Q 3120 Sep 2023: B1/B2 103 days; F/M/J 26; H/L/O/P/Q 3312 Oct 2023: B1/B2 65 days; F/M/J 14; H/L/O/P/Q 155 Nov 2023: B1/B2 71 days; F/M/J 21; H/L/O/P/Q 3017 Dec 2023: B1/B2 80 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 86 Jan 2024: B1/B2 34 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 71 Feb 2024: B1/B2 50 days; F/M/J 2; H/L/O/P/Q 36 Mar 2024: B1/B2 42 days; F/M/J 3; H/L/O/P/Q 29 Apr 2024: B1/B2 44 days; F/M/J 8; H/L/O/P/Q 78 May 2024: B1/B2 66 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 917 Jun 2024: B1/B2 30 days; F/M/J 9; H/L/O/P/Q 76 Jul 2024: B1/B2 30 days; F/M/J 9; H/L/O/P/Q 77 Aug 2024: B1/B2 30 days; F/M/J 9; H/L/O/P/Q 714 Sep 2024: B1/B2 23 days; F/M/J 12; H/L/O/P/Q 92 Oct 2024: B1/B2 28 days; F/M/J 11; H/L/O/P/Q 712 Nov 2024: B1/B2 5 days; F/M/J 3; H/L/O/P/Q 31 Dec 2024: B1/B2 7 days; F/M/J 4; H/L/O/P/Q 36 Jan 2025: B1/B2 17 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 87 Feb 2025: B1/B2 17 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 85 Mar 2025: B1/B2 17 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 816 Apr 2025: B1/B2 12 days; F/M/J 2; H/L/O/P/Q 21 May 2025: B1/B2 45 days; F/M/J 0; H/L/O/P/Q 04 Jun 2025: B1/B2 60 days; F/M/J 0; H/L/O/P/Q 02 Jul 2025: B1/B2 60 days; F/M/J 0; H/L/O/P/Q 03 Aug 2025: B1/B2 0 days; F/M/J 0; H/L/O/P/Q 607 Sep 2025: B1/B2 30 days; F/M/J 0; H/L/O/P/Q 303 Oct 2025: B1/B2 7 days; F/M/J 30; H/L/O/P/Q 71 Nov 2025: B1/B2 15 days; F/M/J 30; H/L/O/P/Q 72 Dec 2025: B1/B2 7 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 456 Jan 2026: B1/B2 30 days; F/M/J 30; H/L/O/P/Q 308 Feb 2026: B1/B2 7 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 607 Mar 2026: B1/B2 7 days; F/M/J 45; H/L/O/P/Q 454 Apr 2026: B1/B2 7 days; F/M/J 60; H/L/O/P/Q 7514 May 2026: B1/B2 45 days; F/M/J 120; H/L/O/P/Q 1057 Jun 2026: B1/B2 60 days; F/M/J 105; H/L/O/P/Q 1051 Jul 2026: B1/B2 90 days; F/M/J 135; H/L/O/P/Q 45

Visitor B1/B2Student F, M, JWorker H, L, O, P, Q

Next available appointment at Beijing over time. Days to the next available appointment as listed on each reading date (44 readings, 4 Nov 2022 to 1 Jul 2026). From 1 May 2025 the Department publishes the estimate in half-month steps; those are shown as 30 days per month.

Month by month

MonthNonimmigrantImmigrantvs same month prior year
Sep 202520,4450+18%
Aug 202516,0550-35%
Jul 202515,2180-44%
Jun 202518,7710-30%
May 202524,2910-19%
Apr 202524,0740-1%
Mar 202525,3720+11%
Feb 202522,0490+34%
Jan 202514,6940-31%
Dec 202417,7840+16%
Nov 202418,6010+25%
Oct 202418,4450+69%
Sep 202417,3860+68%
Aug 202424,5860+49%
Jul 202427,2120+85%
Jun 202426,8170+42%
May 202429,8160+104%
Apr 202424,3070+35%
Mar 202422,9390+18%
Feb 202416,4180+127%
Jan 202421,4440+249%
Dec 202315,3900+1288%
Nov 202314,8950+504%
Oct 202310,9060+553%

One row per monthly report; the rows are not added together. Each month links to the post's class breakdown for that month. Global totals for any month: September 2025.

BeijingChengduGuangzhouShanghaiShenyangWuhan
Location of the U.S. post in Beijing.This post Other posts in the country Outlines: Natural Earth.

Other U.S. posts in China

Questions and answers

How many visas did the U.S. post in Beijing issue last month?

20,445 nonimmigrant visas in September 2025, the latest month in the State Department's monthly issuance tables. In September 2024 the post issued 17,386 nonimmigrant visas.

What is the wait for a visitor visa interview in Beijing?

The Department's Global Visa Wait Times table, read on 1 Jul 2026, listed the next available B1/B2 interview appointment as 3 months away (2 to 6 months). The Department updates the table monthly and says new appointments are added regularly, so an applicant may get an appointment sooner.

What is the wait for a student visa interview in Beijing?

The next available F, M or J appointment was listed as 4.5 months away on 1 Jul 2026. Student appointments are scheduled separately from visitor appointments at most posts.

Which visa classes does Beijing issue most?

In September 2025: B1/B2 (17,692, 86.5%), C1/D (514, 2.5%), H1B (494, 2.4%), F1 (489, 2.4%) and J1 (239, 1.2%). 33 nonimmigrant classes appear in the post's table for the month.

Is visa volume at Beijing rising or falling?

September 2025: 20,445 nonimmigrant visas, up 18% on September 2024 (17,386). The month-by-month series on this page shows the path one month at a time; the Department notes that monthly reports are preliminary and subject to change and should not be added together.

How many visas does Beijing issue in a year?

The Department publishes annual totals separately, in its Report of the Visa Office, and says its monthly reports should not be aggregated, so this site shows no yearly figure for a post. The annual tables by nationality are on the nationality pages.

What does the issuance count for Beijing not tell you?

It is the number of visas issued, not the number of applications received or interviews held, and it says nothing about the outcome of any individual application. The Department publishes refusal rates only for B visas by nationality, not by post.

Where does this data come from?

The State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs publishes monthly nonimmigrant and immigrant visa issuance tables by post and visa class, and a Global Visa Wait Times table. Issuances on this page run March 2017 to September 2025; wait times are read from the Department's table and kept as dated snapshots (44 readings for this post).

Provenance

Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs. Monthly Nonimmigrant Visa Issuances by Post and Visa Class and Monthly Immigrant Visa Issuances by Post and Visa Class (latest NIV table, latest IV table), public domain; Global Visa Wait Times table, read on the dates shown. Issuance data through 30 Sep 2025; site generated 30 Sep 2026. Errors in processing are corrected at the next build; see corrections.