chinese tourist in america?

All international travel by Chinese citizens from China must be approved by the government. If you have family members in the US, then you can travel as an individual, but it is costly and time consuming to get the proper visa. It can take years sometimes . . . just for a visit, not for immigration purposes.

However, groups are allowed to travel to approved destinations. The USA is one of those allowed destinations. The following explains how it works.

Approved Destination Status (ADS) policy

ADS was first introduced in the early nineties for destinations in Southeast Asia such as Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia. Prior to ADS, travelling abroad was only allowed for business purpose and official visits with government approval needed for every single visit. ADS policy was created to account for the growing interest of Chinese citizens in foreign travel and the fast increase in disposable income.

ADS is granted to overseas destinations through a bilateral government agreement. The ADS only concerns tourism groups handled by assigned Chinese local travel agencies. Business and official travel to overseas destinations are not included in ADS agreements.

The purpose of ADS is to have a control mechanism on the organising parties on both sides (local travel agencies and international tour operators) in order to guarantee safe and reliable tourism services for the Chinese customers.

An important issue within ADS is to avoid possible illegal immigration through tourism channels. All tourism groups travelling within the ADS framework are supposed to be monitored by both Chinese and foreign authorities to ensure they return to China. Embassies and consulates apply different methods to monitor the return of the Chinese tourists. Whenever a tourism group member does not return to China, the local travel agency is held responsible and sanctions are applied.

Only certified ADS travel agencies are allowed to promote and organise tourist groups including visa application and payment of foreign currency to foreign parties. Each of the certified travel agencies must assign special couriers to handle the visa application procedure.

Countries without an ADS agreement are not allowed to receive tourism groups from China or to promote their destination in China for tourism and are restricted to business and official travel groups only.

http://www.chinacontact.org/information/ads.html

The ADS list was recently increased to 130+ countries/territories, but the above website has only 96 listed.

If your friend was to visit, he would need a tourist visa to the United States. Going as a part of a tour would be the easiest way for him to come. However, if he or some family member has connections, he might be able to wrangle an individual trip.

Business & Tourist Visa

The B1 visa is intended for temporary business travel, including travel for negotiating contracts, attending exhibitions and conferences, short-term training, and consultations with suppliers and customers, etc. The B2 visa is intended for tourist activities, such as sightseeing, visiting friends and relatives, obtaining medical treatment, etc. The B1 and B2 visa is not valid for employment in the United States.

Applicants for B1 and B2 visas must demonstrate their intention to enter the U.S. for a temporary period, solely for the purpose of tourism and/or short-term business. Applicants must also demonstrate sufficient funds to cover travel expenses during their stay in the U.S.; as well as sufficient social, economic, and other ties to their home country to compel the applicant to return after a temporary and lawful visit.

All B1/B2 applicants should prepare to present the following documentation and any other relevant information at the time of the interview:

1. Valid Passport: B1/B2 visa applicants must have passports valid for six months beyond their intended period of stay in the United States. If your passport will expire less than 6 months from the date you plan to leave the United States, or is damaged, or you do not have a page for a visa, please get a new passport before your interview.

2. One Photograph: Two inches square color photograph, less than 6 months old, against a white background, full frontal view. The photo should be glued to the English DS-156, Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form. Click for more information on photo requirements.

3.Original Bank Receipt for Application Fee: The 904 RMB (effective Thursday, July 24, 2008) application fee may be paid at any CITIC Bank branch in China. Nonimmigrant visa applicants are required to tape their application fee receipt on the last page of the completed and printed out DS-156 Electronic Visa Application Form. Please do NOT cover the barcode area, and please do NOT staple or glue your receipt.

4.Completed Visa Application Forms: DS-156 & DS-157.

My answer is too long! You'll need to go here to read the rest: http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/niv_business.html

Good luck!

This is true. Some countries will only accept tourists from China if they come in a tour group. One reason for this is to avoid illegal immigrants (although it's not foolproof). It is common for Chinese tourists to stay in the country they are visiting in hope for a better life. They then work illegally and in poor conditions but this is often better than what they had in China.

Tour organizers keep passports as a deterrent, but it is still common for a group of 30 Chinese tourists to enter USA and only 15 return back to China.

Interesting...I have a couple of friends that immigrated from China and I've never heard of anything like that. I've heard of required group visas and no individual travel in other countries (for example, people visiting North Korea) but am pretty sure the US allows Chinese to travel on an individual visa, just like an American would in China. Maybe this is something the Chinese government requires of their own citizens??

At any rate, your friend would definitely need a B-2 tourist visa from the US State Department for a stay of any length. I don't know what all is involved, but you can check out the link below...

It's true. The US doesn't freely grant entry permissions to all Chinese people. This is due mainly in part of fear of people "disappearing" once they arrive in the US and stay illegally. I actually heard about a similar case a couple years back when a group (either the circus or some performing arts) traveled to the US and somehow a few of their performers "disappeared". One of my friend is trying to get his gf over to US for a visit (tourist), but it's proving to be a very stressful process. I know it does help if your Chinese friend has a job, residence, bank account, business, etc. in China - anything that can support the belief that he will return to China after his visit.

whoa..that is kind of strange..i've never heard this before...sorry i don't know..