On Nov. 29, 2016, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) implemented a requirement for all Chinese passport holders who carry a maximum validity (10-year) B1 (visitor for business) and/or B2 (visitor for pleasure) visa to have a valid Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) enrollment before traveling to the United States.
Our team previously discussed EVUS in February 2016 and October 2016. As background, EVUS is the online enrollment system used by nationals of China who hold B-1/B-2 visas valid for 10 years to update basic biographic information to enable their travel to the United States. According to CBP Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske, more than 3.9 million nationals of China hold these 10-year visas.
As of Nov. 29, 2016, nationals of China holding such 10-year B-1/B-2 visas will not be allowed to travel to the United States without a valid EVUS enrollment. Travelers can submit an EVUS enrollment at any time online at www.EVUS.gov and will typically receive a response from the system within minutes of submitting their information, though some responses may take up to 72 hours. EVUS enrollments are generally valid for two years or until the traveler obtains a new visa or passport, whichever occurs first.
For Chinese passport holders who have multiple flights to reach the United States, EVUS enrollment will be verified upon their check-in for the first flight. Travelers entering the United States through a land or sea port of entry must also have an EVUS enrollment.
Initially, CBP will not collect a fee for EVUS enrollment, but the agency anticipates implementation of an enrollment fee in the future. Travelers may enroll without charge until the fee is implemented. Employers should proactively identify those who need to enroll in EVUS to ensure timely enrollment prior to trips to the United States.
For the latest EVUS information, please visit www.CBP.gov/EVUS. GT will continue to provide updates on this issue.