Electronic Visa Update System
The Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS), a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) online system to facilitate travel from Chinese nationals to the United States, will go live on November 29, 2016. All individuals carrying the maximum validity tourist visa (10-year visa) will be required to have a completed EVUS enrollment to be admitted into the United States. Currently, no fee will be collected for an EVUS enrollment. CBP anticipates an EVUS enrollment fee will eventually be implemented, but there is no current time frame for when such a fee will be imposed.
EVUS results from the December 2014 agreement between the United States and China to extend visa validity for most business and leisure travelers from one year to 10 years and for students from one year to five years. Since the extension of the visa validity period, the U.S. Department of State reports that the number of Chinese citizens holding a valid U.S. visa has increased from approximately one million to four million, with an additional 1.5 million new U.S. visas issued in China every year.
Brand USA is working closely with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to communicate official EVUS information to consumers. For information on enrolling in EVUS, please visit https://www.evus.gov/evus/#/. For full information about the program, please visit https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/electronic-visa-update-system-evus/frequently-asked-questions#.