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Shanghai · China

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

Monthly tables Mar 2017 to Sep 2025 · 7th 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."

In September 2025, the latest month published, the post in Shanghai (China) issued 22,341 nonimmigrant visas, up 24% on September 2024 (18,073).

The largest classes that month were B1/B2 (temporary visitor for business and pleasure) with 20,743, 92.8% of the post's issuances, H1B (temporary worker of distinguished merit and ability performing services other than as a registered nurse) with 527, 2.4% of the post's issuances and F1 (student in an academic or language training program) with 344, 1.5% of the post's issuances. Among the 211 posts that issued B1/B2 visas in September 2025, Shanghai ranks 4th by count; for F1 student visas it ranks 4th 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 3.5 months for a visitor (B1/B2) interview, 3.5 months for students and exchange visitors (F, M, J) and 3 months for petition-based workers (H, L, O, P, Q). For visitor visas that is longer than the 3 months listed about six months earlier (2 Dec 2025).

Appointment wait times

Visitor B1/B23.5 monthsnext available appointment; median post 1 month
Student F, M, J3.5 monthsnext available appointment; median post under ½ month
Worker H, L, O, P, Q3 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.

22,341nonimmigrant visas, Sep 2025+24% vs Sep 2024 (18,073)
16,358nonimmigrant visas, Aug 2025+37% month on month
0immigrant visas, Sep 20250 in Sep 2024
2.71%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

015,68631,371VisitorsStudents and exchange visitorsTemporary workersDiplomatic, official and international organisationTransit and crewOther nonimmigrant classesOct 2022Apr 2023Oct 2023Apr 2024Oct 2024Apr 2025Oct 2022: 2,737 (Visitors 1,840, Students and exchange visitors 512, Temporary workers 245, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 3, Transit and crew 134, Other nonimmigrant classes 3)Nov 2022: 2,912 (Visitors 1,357, Students and exchange visitors 993, Temporary workers 392, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 6, Transit and crew 164, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Dec 2022: 2,823 (Visitors 615, Students and exchange visitors 1,717, Temporary workers 463, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 6, Transit and crew 22, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jan 2023: 2,557 (Visitors 1,055, Students and exchange visitors 818, Temporary workers 545, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 6, Transit and crew 133, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Feb 2023: 3,476 (Visitors 1,883, Students and exchange visitors 689, Temporary workers 696, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 7, Transit and crew 201, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Mar 2023: 9,392 (Visitors 7,636, Students and exchange visitors 693, Temporary workers 793, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 14, Transit and crew 256, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Apr 2023: 9,233 (Visitors 7,270, Students and exchange visitors 1,252, Temporary workers 605, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 4, Transit and crew 102, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)May 2023: 12,975 (Visitors 7,634, Students and exchange visitors 4,619, Temporary workers 633, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 8, Transit and crew 81, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jun 2023: 11,229 (Visitors 3,214, Students and exchange visitors 7,459, Temporary workers 492, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 21, Transit and crew 43, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jul 2023: 8,561 (Visitors 1,010, Students and exchange visitors 6,980, Temporary workers 494, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 11, Transit and crew 66, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Aug 2023: 8,831 (Visitors 2,475, Students and exchange visitors 4,894, Temporary workers 1,281, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 6, Transit and crew 175, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Sep 2023: 7,243 (Visitors 5,376, Students and exchange visitors 940, Temporary workers 774, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 5, Transit and crew 148, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Oct 2023: 12,191 (Visitors 10,525, Students and exchange visitors 724, Temporary workers 780, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 3, Transit and crew 159, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Nov 2023: 15,324 (Visitors 14,271, Students and exchange visitors 495, Temporary workers 491, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 7, Transit and crew 60, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Dec 2023: 11,056 (Visitors 7,680, Students and exchange visitors 2,862, Temporary workers 461, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 12, Transit and crew 41, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jan 2024: 15,841 (Visitors 14,061, Students and exchange visitors 1,045, Temporary workers 626, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 6, Transit and crew 101, Other nonimmigrant classes 2)Feb 2024: 11,144 (Visitors 10,173, Students and exchange visitors 511, Temporary workers 402, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 1, Transit and crew 57, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Mar 2024: 18,909 (Visitors 17,263, Students and exchange visitors 938, Temporary workers 529, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 3, Transit and crew 176, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Apr 2024: 19,271 (Visitors 16,352, Students and exchange visitors 2,234, Temporary workers 515, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 5, Transit and crew 165, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)May 2024: 25,429 (Visitors 18,730, Students and exchange visitors 5,617, Temporary workers 862, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 6, Transit and crew 214, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jun 2024: 23,041 (Visitors 14,368, Students and exchange visitors 7,717, Temporary workers 795, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 9, Transit and crew 152, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jul 2024: 26,670 (Visitors 19,986, Students and exchange visitors 5,639, Temporary workers 850, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 13, Transit and crew 182, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Aug 2024: 22,535 (Visitors 20,037, Students and exchange visitors 1,504, Temporary workers 838, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 19, Transit and crew 137, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Sep 2024: 18,073 (Visitors 16,714, Students and exchange visitors 381, Temporary workers 818, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 9, Transit and crew 151, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Oct 2024: 23,892 (Visitors 22,325, Students and exchange visitors 529, Temporary workers 912, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 7, Transit and crew 119, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Nov 2024: 23,658 (Visitors 20,967, Students and exchange visitors 1,000, Temporary workers 1,489, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 8, Transit and crew 194, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Dec 2024: 31,371 (Visitors 28,241, Students and exchange visitors 1,516, Temporary workers 1,456, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 11, Transit and crew 147, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jan 2025: 20,542 (Visitors 18,150, Students and exchange visitors 726, Temporary workers 1,557, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 4, Transit and crew 105, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Feb 2025: 25,170 (Visitors 23,563, Students and exchange visitors 567, Temporary workers 898, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 9, Transit and crew 133, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Mar 2025: 23,392 (Visitors 21,367, Students and exchange visitors 931, Temporary workers 839, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 8, Transit and crew 244, Other nonimmigrant classes 3)Apr 2025: 18,641 (Visitors 15,638, Students and exchange visitors 1,952, Temporary workers 904, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 7, Transit and crew 140, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)May 2025: 18,668 (Visitors 12,000, Students and exchange visitors 5,676, Temporary workers 849, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 5, Transit and crew 138, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jun 2025: 14,430 (Visitors 9,755, Students and exchange visitors 3,563, Temporary workers 949, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 5, Transit and crew 158, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jul 2025: 14,281 (Visitors 10,665, Students and exchange visitors 2,363, Temporary workers 1,063, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 7, Transit and crew 183, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Aug 2025: 16,358 (Visitors 12,951, Students and exchange visitors 2,263, Temporary workers 1,016, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 11, Transit and crew 117, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Sep 2025: 22,341 (Visitors 20,768, Students and exchange visitors 473, Temporary workers 963, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 4, Transit and crew 133, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)
Nonimmigrant visas issued at Shanghai 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 2025ShanghaiAll 6 posts in ChinaAll posts
Nonimmigrant visas issued22,34180,165823,557
Change on Sep 2024+24%—-11%
Immigrant visas issued01,11945,966
Visitors share93%—82.5%
Students and exchange visitors share2.1%—2.9%
Temporary workers share4.3%—9.4%
Diplomatic, official and international organisation share0%—2.1%
Transit and crew share0.6%—2.9%
Other nonimmigrant classes share0%—0.2%
B1/B2 next appointment3.5 months—median 1 month
F, M, J next appointment3.5 months—median under ½ month

All figures are from the September 2025 tables. The country column adds the posts located in China (Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shenyang, Wuhan and Shanghai) 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 pleasure20,74392.8%4 of 211
H1BTemporary worker of distinguished merit and ability performing services other than as a registered nurse5272.4%3 of 163
F1Student in an academic or language training program3441.5%4 of 184
L1Intracompany transferee (executive, managerial, and specialized personnel continuing employment with international firm or corporation)1440.6%11 of 144
C1/DCombined transit and crewmember visa1310.6%33 of 171
H4Spouse or child of H-1B/B1/C, H-2A/B, or H-31110.5%6 of 137
L2Spouse or child of intracompany transferee1060.5%10 of 133
J1Exchange visitor960.4%26 of 194
O1Person with extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business or athletics470.2%5 of 132
J2Spouse or child of exchange visitor220.1%16 of 124
B1Temporary visitor for business180.1%31 of 128
O3Spouse or child of O-1 or O-2120.1%8 of 84
F2Spouse or child of F1100%24 of 104
B2Temporary visitor for pleasure70%8 of 50
G4International organization officer or employee, and immediate family40%68 of 137
O2Person accompanying and assisting in the artistic or athletic performance by O-140%48 of 83
Q1Participant in an international cultural exchange program40%14 of 27
R1Alien in a religious occupation30%46 of 96
C1Alien in transit20%51 of 87
H3Trainee20%9 of 17
P3Artist or entertainer in a culturally unique program20%49 of 69
E3Australian specialty occupation professional10%27 of 28
M1Vocational student and other nonacademic student10%89 of 91

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

Seasonality

Jan97
Feb58
Mar101
Apr85
May118
Jun121
Jul117
Aug103
Sep79
Oct85
Nov122
Dec119
Which months are busiest at Shanghai. Index over 7 complete calendar years; 100 is an average month, darker is busier.

Wait-time history

096192202220232024202520264 Nov 2022: B1/B2 31 days; F/M/J 3; H/L/O/P/Q 311 Dec 2022: B1/B2 30 days; F/M/J 9; H/L/O/P/Q 917 Jan 2023: B1/B2 28 days; F/M/J 9; H/L/O/P/Q 111 Feb 2023: B1/B2 22 days; F/M/J 2; H/L/O/P/Q 36 Mar 2023: B1/B2 46 days; F/M/J 2; H/L/O/P/Q 817 Apr 2023: B1/B2 23 days; F/M/J 22; H/L/O/P/Q 229 Jun 2023: B1/B2 157 days; F/M/J 23; H/L/O/P/Q 4431 Jul 2023: B1/B2 192 days; F/M/J 16; H/L/O/P/Q 151 Aug 2023: B1/B2 175 days; F/M/J 15; H/L/O/P/Q 920 Sep 2023: B1/B2 51 days; F/M/J 25; H/L/O/P/Q 3612 Oct 2023: B1/B2 64 days; F/M/J 16; H/L/O/P/Q 575 Nov 2023: B1/B2 94 days; F/M/J 32; H/L/O/P/Q 2817 Dec 2023: B1/B2 175 days; F/M/J 2; H/L/O/P/Q 86 Jan 2024: B1/B2 92 days; F/M/J 21; H/L/O/P/Q 21 Feb 2024: B1/B2 105 days; F/M/J 8; H/L/O/P/Q 36 Mar 2024: B1/B2 101 days; F/M/J 8; H/L/O/P/Q 29 Apr 2024: B1/B2 120 days; F/M/J 9; H/L/O/P/Q 38 May 2024: B1/B2 108 days; F/M/J 28; H/L/O/P/Q 7417 Jun 2024: B1/B2 99 days; F/M/J 38; H/L/O/P/Q 596 Jul 2024: B1/B2 99 days; F/M/J 36; H/L/O/P/Q 727 Aug 2024: B1/B2 85 days; F/M/J 30; H/L/O/P/Q 4614 Sep 2024: B1/B2 64 days; F/M/J 30; H/L/O/P/Q 392 Oct 2024: B1/B2 65 days; F/M/J 22; H/L/O/P/Q 3812 Nov 2024: B1/B2 56 days; F/M/J 9; H/L/O/P/Q 31 Dec 2024: B1/B2 100 days; F/M/J 16; H/L/O/P/Q 466 Jan 2025: B1/B2 56 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 97 Feb 2025: B1/B2 79 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 35 Mar 2025: B1/B2 79 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 316 Apr 2025: B1/B2 114 days; F/M/J 10; H/L/O/P/Q 91 May 2025: B1/B2 90 days; F/M/J 30; H/L/O/P/Q 304 Jun 2025: B1/B2 90 days; F/M/J 30; H/L/O/P/Q 02 Jul 2025: B1/B2 90 days; F/M/J 30; H/L/O/P/Q 03 Aug 2025: B1/B2 90 days; F/M/J 90; H/L/O/P/Q 07 Sep 2025: B1/B2 60 days; F/M/J 30; H/L/O/P/Q 03 Oct 2025: B1/B2 30 days; F/M/J 30; H/L/O/P/Q 71 Nov 2025: B1/B2 7 days; F/M/J 30; H/L/O/P/Q 72 Dec 2025: B1/B2 90 days; F/M/J 30; H/L/O/P/Q 906 Jan 2026: B1/B2 30 days; F/M/J 30; H/L/O/P/Q 1058 Feb 2026: B1/B2 30 days; F/M/J 105; H/L/O/P/Q 77 Mar 2026: B1/B2 45 days; F/M/J 105; H/L/O/P/Q 304 Apr 2026: B1/B2 105 days; F/M/J 105; H/L/O/P/Q 714 May 2026: B1/B2 75 days; F/M/J 30; H/L/O/P/Q 77 Jun 2026: B1/B2 60 days; F/M/J 75; H/L/O/P/Q 71 Jul 2026: B1/B2 105 days; F/M/J 105; H/L/O/P/Q 90

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

Next available appointment at Shanghai 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 202522,3410+24%
Aug 202516,3580-27%
Jul 202514,2810-46%
Jun 202514,4300-37%
May 202518,6680-27%
Apr 202518,6410-3%
Mar 202523,3920+24%
Feb 202525,1700+126%
Jan 202520,5420+30%
Dec 202431,3710+184%
Nov 202423,6580+54%
Oct 202423,8920+96%
Sep 202418,0730+150%
Aug 202422,5350+155%
Jul 202426,6700+212%
Jun 202423,0410+105%
May 202425,4290+96%
Apr 202419,2710+109%
Mar 202418,9090+101%
Feb 202411,1440+221%
Jan 202415,8410+520%
Dec 202311,0560+292%
Nov 202315,3240+426%
Oct 202312,1910+345%

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.

ShanghaiBeijingChengduGuangzhouShenyangWuhan
Location of the U.S. post in Shanghai.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 Shanghai issue last month?

22,341 nonimmigrant visas in September 2025, the latest month in the State Department's monthly issuance tables. In September 2024 the post issued 18,073 nonimmigrant visas.

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

The Department's Global Visa Wait Times table, read on 1 Jul 2026, listed the next available B1/B2 interview appointment as 3.5 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 Shanghai?

The next available F, M or J appointment was listed as 3.5 months away on 1 Jul 2026. Student appointments are scheduled separately from visitor appointments at most posts.

Which visa classes does Shanghai issue most?

In September 2025: B1/B2 (20,743, 92.8%), H1B (527, 2.4%), F1 (344, 1.5%), L1 (144, 0.6%) and C1/D (131, 0.6%). 23 nonimmigrant classes appear in the post's table for the month.

Is visa volume at Shanghai rising or falling?

September 2025: 22,341 nonimmigrant visas, up 24% on September 2024 (18,073). 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 Shanghai 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 Shanghai 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.