On December 11, 2020, the Department of State hosted an outreach event with AILA's State Department Liaison Committee and addressed a broad range of visa-related questions presented by the Committee. 

On July 27, 2020, the U.S. Consulate in Chengdu closed. What is the preferred U.S. consular post in China for U.S. citizens and nonimmigrant visa applicants who otherwise would have received consular services in Chengdu? 

U.S. Embassy Beijing assumed responsibility for the Consulate Chengdu's consular district, which includes Guizhou, Yunnan, and Sichuan Provinces, Tibet Autonomous Region, and Chongqing Municipality. We remain committed to our mission to protect the welfare and safety of all U.S. citizens abroad.Nonimmigrant visa applicants in Chengdu's consular district may apply at any of our other posts in China. 

The U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou, which is the exclusive post for processing immigrant visas in China, suspended routine visa processing in January 2020. Despite the overall reported COVID-19 cases in China dropping in March to the low hundreds and continuing at that level or to double or single digits through the date of this writing, the Consulate has not shown signs of reopening similar to what we have seen in some European countries that are consistently reporting COVID-19 cases in the thousands and where cases are increasing. While AILArecognizes that additional factors are likely contributing to the sustained nature of the closing, can DOS advise whether there is a plan for a phased reopening of IV processing in China? If so, can DOS share any details as to what the priorities might be as they relate to the various types of IVs, K-1s, and Returning Resident Visas? 

U.S. embassies and consulates are working to resume routine visa services on a location-by location basis, following the suspension of routine visa services due to COVID-19. We are unable to provide a specific date for when each mission will resume specific visa services, or when each mission will return to processing at pre-COVID-19 workload levels. See each U.S. embassy or consulate's website for information regarding operating status and which services it currently offers. Applicants who need to travel immediately should follow the guidance provided on the nearest embassy or consulate's website to request an emergency appointment. As post specific conditions permit, and as noted in our general guidance, when posts are able to phase in processing of some routine cases, we expect posts that process immigrant visa applications will prioritize Immediate Relative family members of U.S. citizens, including intercountry adoptions(consistent with Presidential Proclamation 10014), fiancé(e)s of U.S. citizens, and certain Special Immigrant Visa applications.