Chongqing- On April 14th, 2020, AmCham Southwest China successfully held the U.S. Consulate General Chengdu Briefing about the Recent Update. U.S. Consulate General Chengdu Consul General Jim Mullinax, together with Consular Section American Citizen Service Chief, exchanged in-depth views on COVID-19 situation, visa information, prospects for U.S. companies investing in China, travel ban, etc. This conference attracted dozens of AmCham members and more than 100 CEOs and senior managers from Fortune 500 companies and well-known local enterprises, including JW Marriott Hotel Chongqing, The Temple House, Metlife, Triumph Aerostructures Vought Aircraft Technical Services, Wall-Face, etc.
Mr. Jim Mullinax shared the remarks about the recent update, including COVID-19 Situation in the United States, Mission China’s PPE Task Force, Donations to the U.S., Travel Restrictions and Visa Services, and U.S./China Phase One Trade Deal Progress Report.
In the end, Mr. Benjamin Wang, Chairman of AmCham Southwest, outlined the efforts of the AmCham Southwest have made during this special period and appealed to more companies and individuals for actively taking social responsibility while promoting their development. Together, with care for each other, we will surmount this difficult time.
Q: For the people who want to study in the U.S., what advice will you give to them?
A: For the students who have not yet received the visa, they need to wait. There are several exceptions, like national interest exemptions, to those individuals who have some special abilities or skills that are helping the U.S. fight against coronavirus. And that’s something we can deal with, so for those individuals that you can contact us and then we will help you with this service. Please contact us using the email or website listed above.
Q: How do you see the U.S. business investment in China?
A: Well, all businesses are going to make their own decisions about where they want to invest and how they want to spend their money. I think for many businesses, because of the economic crisis, the uncertainty in the current business environment is likely going to cause them to think about their investment plans. And certainly, not all investment is going to stop; if U.S. companies want to invest in China, from the U.S. side, certainly they’re welcoming to do so. I’m sure that Chinese authorities will be very happy to welcome American investment. But you know this is a difficult economic time, so it’s hard to predict which industries might be willing to continue to invest. Everyone is taking a hard look now at what is really important, where they can continue to operate and when they need to be cut back. But from our perspective, we don’t have any restrictions. We’re not encouraging or discouraging anybody from doing things that make sense to them.
Q: For U.S. citizens with China visas expired but cannot go back to the U.S., what should they do?
A: One of the best things to do is to contact the local entry/exit bureau that is responsible for dealing with Chinese immigration issues. There are some telephone numbers (scroll down to check the contacts) for Chengdu and Chongqing to help you. If you are still a resident, you can go to the local police station where you registered yourself, and they can also give you some assistance if you have difficulty. Local officials across China have been very understanding when it comes to the individuals who are here in China and are not able to return. And in some instances, they’ve already granted automatic extensions because of the COVID-19 situation. By and large, for American citizens here, they have been granted an exemption for the time being. And it helps out the situation quite a bit. But we do advise you to get in touch with the Chinese authorities to make sure that all the problems that arise from that.
Consulate Contact Information
Chengdu PSB Exit & Entry Administration
1 Ren Min Xi Lu, Chengdu, Sichuan
Phone: (28)8640-7074/8640-7067
Hours (Monday-Friday): 09: 00-17: 00
Note: The standard processing time for a Chinese visa is five business days.
Chongqing PSB Exit & Entry Administration
#311 Jinshi Ave, Yu Bei District, Chongqing
Phone: (23)6396-1944,(23)6396-2000
Hours( Monday- Friday):09:00-12:00,14:00-17:00
Note: The normal processing time for a Chinese visa is five business days.
CONSULATE GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
No 4 Lingshiguan Lu, Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China 610041
American Citizen Service (ACS) Resources:
General Consulate Phone: (8628)8558-3992
General Consulate Fax: (8628)8554-6229 / 8558-3520
After-Hours Emergency Line: (86 10)8531-4000
ACS Email: Amcitchengdu(@state. gov
Travel/Registration Information: https://travel.stategov/
General Consulate Website: https://china.usembassy-china.org.cn
ACS Appointment: https://evisaforms.stategov/acs/
ACS Appointment Hours: Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays 13: 00-16: 00 Closed U. S and Chinese Holidays