All successful US Non-Immigrant Visa applicants at the US Consulate General in Shanghai will be able to pay the China Post Courier Service fee at the designated window within China CITIC Bank Shanghai CITIC Square Sub-branch starting from February 18.

The CITIC sub-branch is located at 1168 Nanjing Road W, just across the street from the Consular Section.

The US Consulate General in Shanghai announced this improvement to the visa processing procedures so as to offer more expeditious service to residents.

According to the US Consulate General, this procedural change aims to create additional space in the visa interviewing area and allow more visa applicants than ever to be interviewed each day.

In order to facilitate payment for this service, all visa applicants will receive a China Post mailing label upon payment of the visa application fee at any branch of China CITIC Bank within the Shanghai consular district.

Prior to the interview, this mailing label must be filled out completely and submitted with other application materials.

Successful applicants wishing to track the delivery of their passports are encouraged to make a record of the mailing label tracking number prior to their interview.

For applicants who are approved for a US Non-Immigrant visa, the interviewing officer will provide a green slip to the applicant providing payment information and directions to the China Post Courier Service located in China CITIC Bank - CITIC Square Sub-branch.

Applicants qualifying under the "Frequent Traveler" program (limited to applicants whose visas have recently expired within the previous 12 months) with CITIC Bank will pre-pay the courier fee upon submission of a visa application to CITIC bank for facilitated visa interview appointments and delivery.

Information about who can qualify to use the "Frequent Traveler Program" can be found on the consulate's website at http://shanghai.usembassy-china.org.cn.

Meanwhile, the US Consulate General in Shanghai and China Post simplified the delivery charges for visa courier services, allowing for easier payment and delivery. China Post will allow one passport per envelope. Applicants will be charged 25 yuan (US$3.40) per passport for self pick-up at designated post offices or 45 yuan for door-to-door delivery.

(Shanghai Daily January 26, 2008)