Updated November 11, 2026

EVUS enrollment for Chinese 10-year visa holders: steps, fee and validity

If you hold a People's Republic of China (PRC) passport with a 10-year B1, B2, or B1/B2 visitor visa, you must have a valid Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) enrollment before traveling to the United States. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), enrollment requires a government fee listed on the EVUS portal, takes about 20 minutes, and remains valid for two years or until your passport or visa expires, whichever comes first. Without an approved EVUS, airlines will not issue your boarding pass and CBP will not let you enter through a land or sea port.

What is EVUS and who must enroll?

The Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) is an online U.S. Customs and Border Protection system used by nationals of China holding a 10-year B1/B2, B1, or B2 visitor visa to update basic biographic information before traveling to the United States. The requirement took effect on November 29, 2016, following the November 2014 bilateral reciprocal arrangement between the United States and China to issue 10-year visitor and business visas. Updating your information online does not replace your visa, and you still need a valid B1/B2 visa to travel. If you do not have your visitor visa yet, read our B1/B2 visa guide.

Every traveler who holds a PRC passport and a maximum validity (10-year) B1, B2, or B1/B2 visa must enroll, regardless of age or current residence. Infants and children need their own enrollments. PRC citizens living permanently in Canada or departing from Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan on a PRC passport must also enroll. If you are traveling to Guam on a PRC passport with a 10-year B1/B2 visa, EVUS is required.

You do not need to enroll in EVUS if your U.S. visitor visa is valid for only one year, or if you travel using a Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, or Taiwan passport. If you hold 10-year B1/B2 visas in two different PRC passports, such as a public affairs passport and a private passport, each EVUS enrollment applies to a single visa, so you must complete a separate enrollment for each one.

Who needs an EVUS enrollment before traveling to the U.S.

Government EVUS website, fee and payment methods

The only U.S. government website to submit an enrollment or check your status is CBP's EVUS portal, operated by the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

When CBP first launched EVUS for early enrollments on October 31, 2016, the agency did not collect a fee while it prepared to implement the charge. Following the HR-1 statutory fee change, travelers (or a third party submitting on their behalf) must pay an enrollment fee at the final step of every new enrollment, and CBP's EVUS portal lists the current amount.

You can pay the enrollment fee on the EVUS portal using any of these accepted payment methods:

• MasterCard
• VISA
• American Express
• Discover (JCB or Diners Club only)
• UnionPay

What you need and how to enroll step by step

CBP estimates the average time to complete an EVUS enrollment is 20 minutes. You do not need to upload a new photo or submit fingerprints. You can read the questions on the EVUS website in English or Mandarin Chinese, and you can use a computer, mobile phone, or tablet. However, all answers must be typed in English.

If you do not know how to answer in English, a friend, relative, travel agent, or other third party may fill out the form, check your status, and pay the fee on your behalf. You are still legally responsible for the truth and accuracy of everything submitted in your name.

Before you open the form, gather these required items:

1. Your valid PRC passport.

2. Your valid 10-year U.S. B1, B2, or B1/B2 visa (located in your current passport or an expired passport). Your visa class is printed in the upper right corner of the visa foil.

3. Your basic personal details, including your full name, date of birth, and any aliases or other names you have used.

4. Your contact information, emergency contact details, and your current or past employment information, including your employer's address and phone number.

5. Your U.S. point of contact (name, address, and phone number) and the address of your U.S. destination. If you do not have immediate travel plans or a direct U.S. contact, CBP says you may write "unknown" for the contact, or enter the name of your hotel or tour group.

6. Your Global Entry ID number, if applicable.

Once your information is ready, complete the seven CBP steps:

• Step 1: Answer Disclaimer. Read and accept the government system terms.
• Step 2: Enter Travel Document Information. Input your PRC passport details and your 10-year U.S. visa foil details.
• Step 3: Enter Enrollee Information. Provide your biographic details, aliases, contact information, emergency contact, and employer information.
• Step 4: Enter Travel Information. Add your U.S. point of contact and your U.S. destination address.
• Step 5: Answer Eligibility Questions. Complete the background and admissibility questions.
• Step 6: Review Enrollment. Check every line carefully before submitting. Fixing even a single typo after submission requires a brand-new enrollment.
• Step 7: Pay. Submit the enrollment fee listed on the EVUS portal using an accepted card. You can submit an individual enrollment or a group of enrollments.

How to check EVUS status and how long approval takes

After you pay and submit, CBP says most EVUS enrollments are processed within minutes, though some responses can take up to 72 hours. CBP recommends enrolling when you start planning your trip and at least one week before you depart.

The EVUS system will not send you an email or an SMS text message when your enrollment is approved. To check your status, go to the CBP EVUS homepage and click "Check Existing Enrollment" (for an individual or a group). You do not need to print the confirmation page to travel, because your approval is transmitted electronically to your airline and to CBP officers.

An approved EVUS enrollment lets you board your flight, but it does not guarantee admission into the United States. CBP officers at the port of entry make the final decision when you arrive, just as they do for travelers who complete ESTA arrival questions. To prepare for arrival inspection, read what CBP officers ask at the US border.

EVUS validity rules and worked examples

An approved EVUS enrollment is generally valid for two years from the date it is approved, or until your passport or U.S. visa expires, whichever comes first. During that valid period, you can travel to the United States multiple times without re-enrolling.

There is one rule that surprises many travelers: the 6-month passport cutoff. Because the United States requires a traveler's passport to be valid for at least six months beyond their entry date, CBP automatically ends your EVUS validity six months before your passport's printed expiration date. If your EVUS is approved for less than two years, it is not a system error. It means either your visa is expiring within two years, or your passport is reaching its six-month cutoff window.

Worked example (hypothetical dates written by our team to show how CBP's three cutoff rules work):

Suppose you enroll and get approved on November 10, 2026. The table below shows when your EVUS will actually expire under four common document scenarios, applying CBP's two-year rule, visa expiration rule, and six-month passport validity rule.

Worked example: How CBP calculates your EVUS expiration date (enrolled November 10, 2026)

What to do if your valid visa is in an expired passport

If your PRC passport expires while your U.S. B1/B2 visa is still valid, you do not need to apply for a new U.S. visa. However, your previous EVUS enrollment expired when your old passport became invalid.

Once you receive your new PRC passport, complete a new EVUS enrollment before your next trip to the United States. During the application, enter the valid visa information from your expired passport alongside the passport information from your new passport. When you fly, carry both the old expired passport containing the valid U.S. visa and your new valid passport.

If your visa itself has expired, EVUS cannot extend it. You must apply for a new visitor visa first, and if you need an interview, you can review B1/B2 visa interview questions.

What if you do not plan to visit the United States soon? CBP says you do not need to renew an expired EVUS or enroll a new passport right away if you have no upcoming travel. You only need to complete your new EVUS enrollment before your next trip to the United States.

What if only your address, job, or U.S. contact changes? If you already hold a valid EVUS enrollment, you can log into the EVUS system and update your U.S. point of contact, your U.S. destination address, or your current employment information without submitting a new enrollment.

Mid-cycle EVUS updates vs. changes that require a new enrollment

What happens if you forget to enroll before your flight?

Airlines receive EVUS status directly through their internal systems connected to CBP. If you require an EVUS enrollment and do not have a valid one on file, the airline system will block your check-in and the agent cannot print your boarding pass.

If your itinerary includes connecting flights to reach the United States, your EVUS enrollment is verified when you check in for your very first flight. Travelers entering the United States by land from Canada or Mexico, or arriving by sea, are also checked for a valid EVUS at the port of entry, and traveling without one will delay your entry.

If you arrive at the airport and realize you forgot to enroll, you can submit an EVUS enrollment on the spot using your mobile phone or tablet. Most applications are approved within minutes, so you may still make your flight. However, because some enrollments take up to 72 hours to process and expedited EVUS processing is impossible, waiting until airport check-in can cause you to miss your departure.

If you are already inside the United States, you do not need an EVUS enrollment to depart the country. You only need a valid enrollment before your next entry into the United States.

Common errors, failed enrollments and how to contact EVUS support

Even small input mistakes can cause problems with EVUS. Here is how CBP handles the most common issues:

Fixing a typo on a submitted form. Any change other than updating your U.S. contact, destination address, or current employer counts as a brand-new enrollment. If you mistype your passport number, visa foil number, name, or date of birth, you must submit a new application.

Receiving an "Enrollment Unsuccessful" result. A failed enrollment can happen because of a system error or an administrative input error, such as leaving out complete or accurate details. If you receive an "Enrollment Unsuccessful" message, CBP instructs you not to try re-enrolling within 24 hours. Instead, contact the EVUS Call Center first so an agent can check the issue.

Can the U.S. embassy fix or expedite EVUS? No. CBP states that U.S. embassies and consulates cannot expedite EVUS processing, provide details about an EVUS enrollment, or resolve an unsuccessful enrollment.

Website stuck on the current page. If the EVUS form keeps returning you to the same page and will not advance, check every required field marked with a red asterisk (*). The system blocks you from moving forward if a required box is blank or contains invalid characters, such as Chinese characters or punctuation marks where only English letters and numbers are allowed.

Browser and computer issues. The EVUS website requires a current internet browser that supports 128-bit encryption with cookies and JavaScript enabled. If the site will not load or freezes, lower your firewall or internet security level, switch to a different browser or computer, or try a different internet connection.

How to contact the EVUS Call Center. For help with technical problems or an unsuccessful enrollment, contact the CBP Traveler Communications Center by phone at 00-1-202-325-0180 (located in Washington, D.C. CBP does not charge for support, though your phone carrier may charge international calling rates) or by email through the EVUS support address listed on CBP's EVUS page. The center is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except on U.S. federal holidays, with Mandarin-speaking operators available.

Practice example

What is the purpose of your visit, where will you stay, and when are you returning home?

Give the CBP officer a direct, honest explanation that matches the U.S. destination address and point of contact on your approved EVUS record. State whether you are visiting for business or pleasure, name the city and the specific hotel or relative's residence where you will stay, and share your exact return flight date. If a relative or travel agent typed your EVUS answers in English for you, review the submitted address, contact name, and current employer details before your flight so you know what is on your file. Have your return ticket itinerary, hotel confirmation or host's phone number, and both your new PRC passport and your old expired passport ready at the inspection booth if your valid 10-year B1/B2 visa is in an older book.

CBP officers decide admissibility at the port of entry even when your visa and EVUS are approved. Matching your spoken itinerary and documents to your EVUS record shows your visit fits temporary B1/B2 rules.

Related guides

• B1/B2 visa guide
• ESTA arrival questions
• what CBP officers ask
• B1/B2 visa interview questions

This is interview practice, not legal advice. For questions about your own case, talk to an immigration attorney. Visaful is not affiliated with the U.S. government or the Department of State.