行前多久我应该申请签证？

大家好，我们又见面了!

这一周, 我准备谈谈签证申请中一个最重要，也是最易被误解的环节：申请时间。我见到过太多的申请人仅仅是因为他们申请得太晚而遇到了困难。

我从签证申请人那里听到的最普遍问题之一就是，“我应该在赴美之前多久申请签证？”。答案很简单，那就是：尽早。为什么？因为有许多因素导致我们不可能准确地预计每一个签证审理所需时间。每个申请人的情况各不相同，有些签证的审理时间比其他的要长。大部分签证审理时间的长短差异都是因为很多申请人一直等到即将出行才开始申请签证。这就是为什麽春节前后几周，还有暑假的几个月都是我们领馆最忙的时期。为了避免延误，我强烈建议, 您一旦确定了旅行计划，就请尽快开始申请签证。请记住：你越早申请签证，得到批准后你就能越早拿到签证。

有些人认为他们必须等到签证过期后才能申请一新的签证。这不是真的！事实上，最好是在您上一个签证到期之前就申请新的签证。这就引出了我要讲的下一点， 一个叫“代传递”的项目，此项目允许一些符合条件的申请人免面谈续签他们的签证。 下面就请看一下这个项目的具体操作：

大部分签证种类都可以使用“代传递”续签，尽管要求不一样（详情请看： 这里  ）。如果您之前获得过签证，该签证现在仍然有效，或失效没超过48个月，您就可能符合“代传递”续签条件。谨以下面图表说明该项目流程：

http://s6/mw690/001K80ucgy6EIPOL7O585&690

免面谈代传递签证续签

1．  填写完成DS-160, 支付 可机读签证费用并选择“代传递”的地点

2．  将代传递所需文件及护照送至中信银行

3．  等待签证审理。对有些案例, 申请人可能接到通知前来面谈

4．  到中信银行支行领取护照  

在此，我特别想鼓励回家过节的学生签证持有者使用“代传递”进行续签，而不是选择前来使领馆面谈。

为了加快申请程序的速度，申请人可以在回国之前在线填好DS-160表格，在线完成“代传递”申请需要的确认信，并支付MRV可机读签证申请费用。还有，对于频繁赴美的旅行者，我建议你们每年都续签你们的签证。这样的话，一旦需要紧急赴美， 你们就无须为申请签证犯愁了！

好了，这一期就到这里吧。如果我今天要留给你们一条建议的话，那就是尽早申请您的签证，并请使用“代传递”！感谢阅读，下期见。“签证老王”下线喽！

How soon before travel should I apply for a visa?

Hello again everyone!

This week I’m going to discuss one the most important – and misunderstood – parts of applying for a U.S. visa:  timing.  I’ve seen far too many applicants encounter difficulties with their visas simply because they applied too late. 

One of the most common questions I hear from visa applicants is, “how soon before traveling to the United States should I apply for a visa?”  The simple answer is as soon as possible.  Why?  Due to many factors, it is impossible to predict exactly how long it will take to process each visa.  Every applicant’s situation is different, and some visas take longer than others.  Much of the fluctuation in visa processing times is due to the fact that most applicants wait until they are about to travel to apply for their visa.  That’s why the weeks around Chinese New Year as well as the summer vacation months are among the busiest times at our consular sections.  To avoid delays I strongly encourage you to apply as soon as you make your travel plans.  Remember: the earlier you apply for a visa, the earlier you will get a visa, if approved. 

Some folks believe they must wait for a visa to expire before applying for a new one.  Not true!  In fact, it is best to apply for a new visa before the previous one expires.  This leads me to my next point, a program called “drop box” which allows applicants to renew their visas without an interview in certain cases.  Here’s how it works:

Most visa classes are eligible for drop box processing, though the requirements vary (find all of the details here).  If you have a previous visa which is currently valid or has expired within the last 48 months, you may be eligible to renew your visa by using our drop box program.  Here is a diagram of how the process works:

 http://s7/mw690/001K80ucgy6EIQ4HsJUf6&690

Drop box Visa Renewals

1．  Complete DS-160, pay MRV fee and choose “Drop box” as post.

2．  Drop off required documents and passport to CITIC bank.

3．  Wait for visa to be processed.  In some cases, applicants may be called in for an interview.

4．  Appear at CITIC Bank branch to pick up passport.

Specifically, I’d like to encourage student visa holders who are home for the holidays to use the drop box to get a new visa, rather than coming into the Embassy or consulate for a visa interview. 

Applicants can fill out an application (DS-160) online, complete the dropbox process online and pay the MRV fee before even returning to China in order to speed up the process. Also, for frequent travelers to the United States, I suggest that you renew your visa every year, so that when those last minute trips come up, you do not have to worry about applying for a visa before you travel.

So that’s it for this edition.  If I leave you with one message for today, it is to apply early for your visa, and use our drop box !  Thanks for reading and see you next time.  “Qianzheng Laowang” signing off!