Designated classes of non-immigrant visa holders will soon be required to enrol in the new Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) before travelling to the United States, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced.
Foreign nationals travelling on a passport issued by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and a U.S. B-1/B-2, B-1 or B-2 visitor visa valid for 10 years will be the first group required to register for travel that takes place on or after November 29, 2016.
EVUS is not yet in operation, but CBP expects to begin early enrolment later this month. When the system is operational, affected Chinese travellers will need to enrol in the system, pay an $8 fee and update their biographic information in order to enter the United States for business or tourism. Enrolment remains valid for two years, or until the traveller’s passport or visa expires, whichever occurs first. Those who fail to enrol in EVUS will not be issued an airline boarding pass or admitted at a U.S. land border, and could have their visa revoked.
In the initial phase of EVUS, only those travelling on a PRC passport with a 10-year B-1/B-2, B-1 or B-2 visa will be required to enrol. Those with a Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR or Taiwan passport are not affected by the new requirement. However, a forthcoming Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulation is expected to give the agency the authority to require additional classes of non immigrants to register in the system before travel to the United States.
What the EVUS Requirement Means for Employers and Foreign Nationals
Though no action is required now, Chinese nationals planning travel to the United States for business or tourism on or after November 29, 2016 must be prepared to register in EVUS when the new requirement takes effect. Those who currently hold a 10-year U.S. visitor visa must register in EVUS in order to travel to the United States on or after November 29. Those issued a 10-year visitor visa on November 29 or later must register in EVUS before their first trip to the United States on that visa.