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Booking a U.S. Visa Appointment in China
Applicants in mainland China book through USTravelDocs, not AIS. There are five consular posts, and China publishes the most detailed timing and device rules of any country we have read — several of which end an appointment before it starts.
Nothing can be booked until the DS-160 is submitted and the visa fee has activated. The general sequence is on how to book a U.S. visa appointment; the Chinese-language version of this guide is at 美国签证面谈预约.
We read the China USTravelDocs pages on 17 September 2026. Quotations are from them.
Five posts
| Post | City |
|---|---|
| U.S. Embassy | Beijing |
| U.S. Consulate General | Guangzhou |
| U.S. Consulate General | Shanghai |
| U.S. Consulate General | Shenyang |
| U.S. Consulate General | Wuhan |
Your appointment time is when to arrive, not when you are seen
This is stated plainly and is the most commonly misread line on the page:
Your appointment time on the appointment notice is the time you are expected to arrive at the U.S. Embassy/Consulate, not the time that you will interview with an officer.
Three hard consequences follow, and each is a separate rule:
- You will not be admitted before your scheduled time. Arriving two hours early does not get you in early; it gets you a longer wait outside.
- More than 30 minutes late and you are asked to reschedule. Not seen later in the day — rebooked.
- Everyone attending must carry a copy of the appointment notice. "Anyone whose name is not listed on the notice will not be allowed to enter." A parent accompanying a child, an interpreter, a spouse — if the name is not on the notice, they do not get in.
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi devices are banned even when switched off
China's device rule is broader than any other post's, and the "powered off" carve-out that works elsewhere does not exist here:
All Bluetooth/WiFi/electronic devices are prohibited, whether powered on, or off.
The named examples go well past phones: smart watches, fitness trackers, smart pens, voice recorders, and "any other devices that have Bluetooth, WiFi, or any other remote transmission capability." The list then adds the two most easily forgotten:
- Electronic keys — a car key fob is a remote transmitter
- Building access cards — the pass you use to get into your office or flat
Smart glasses are named separately, the only post we have read that does.
Also prohibited: mobile phones, pagers, cameras, laptops, portable music players, handheld video devices, weapons and explosives, and sharp objects such as scissors, pen knives or nail files.
And the rule that makes all of it consequential:
The U.S. Embassy/Consulate cannot store prohibited items for you.
So a car key fob has to be left with someone outside, or you do not go in. If you drove, plan for that before you arrive.
Why no slots appear
- The fee has not activated. Check the method you used on the China fee guide.
- That post has no availability. China has five — check the others.
- You created a profile on AIS instead of USTravelDocs. It will never show Chinese appointments — see which appointment site is yours.
- The DS-160 was saved but never submitted, so no confirmation number exists.
Frequently asked questions
Is my appointment time the interview time?
No. It is the time you are expected to arrive. The interview happens after screening and queueing.
What if I am late?
More than 30 minutes past the appointment time and you are asked to reschedule.
Can I arrive early to be seen sooner?
No. You will not be admitted before your scheduled time.
Can my husband, mother or interpreter come in with me?
Only if their name is on the appointment notice, and they must bring a copy. Anyone not listed is refused entry.
Can I bring a switched-off smartwatch?
No. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi devices are prohibited whether powered on or off, and nothing is stored.
What about my car key?
Electronic keys are named as prohibited — a key fob is a remote transmitter. There is no storage, so leave it outside with someone.
Official sources
- USTravelDocs China — interview and security pages, read 17 September 2026
- U.S. Mission to China