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Preparing for the immigrant visa interview in GuangzhouImmigrant visa interview at the U.S. Consulate General Guangzhou

Wang Law Firm, LLC · David Wang, Managing Attorney · Attorney-reviewed · Updated October 2026

Start here: (1) If you are applying for a U.S. immigrant visa in mainland China, your interview takes place at the U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou, the only U.S. post in China that processes immigrant visas. (2) As soon as you receive your interview notice, book your medical exam with a provider designated by the consulate; exams from other hospitals are not accepted. (3) Mainland Chinese birth, marriage, divorce, no-criminal-record and similar records generally must take the form of notarial certificates issued by a local notary office with an English translation attached, and you bring the originals to the interview. (4) The petitioner and attorneys generally cannot enter the consulate to accompany you to the interview, so all preparation must be completed beforehand.

After a family-based petition (for example, an I-130 filed by a U.S. citizen for a spouse, parent or child) or an employment-based petition is approved, a beneficiary living in mainland China usually goes through “consular processing”: the case is first transferred to the U.S. Department of State’s National Visa Center (NVC); once the documents are complete, NVC schedules an interview at the Consulate General in Guangzhou; and if the visa is approved, the applicant enters the U.S. on the immigrant visa and becomes a permanent resident upon admission.

This page explains, in chronological order, what to complete before the interview, how the interview day works, what to bring, the possible outcomes after the interview, and the next steps after you receive your visa. The K-1 fiancé(e) visa is a nonimmigrant visa with a different process and is outside the scope of this page. The consulate’s specific arrangements change from time to time; always follow the interview notice you receive and the consulate’s current instructions.

Before the interview: what to complete at the NVC stage

The Department of State divides the immigrant visa process into 12 steps. The steps before the interview are roughly as follows (for details, see Form DS-260 explained):

The petition is approved and the case is transferred to NVC. After NVC creates the case, it sends a Welcome Letter by email or paper mail containing the case information needed to log in to the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC). For preference categories, timing depends on the priority date; the cutoff dates are published each month in the Visa Bulletin.
Pay fees in CEAC. The immigrant visa application processing fee and the Affidavit of Support fee (if applicable); amounts are as currently published by the Department of State.
Submit the Affidavit of Support. In family-based cases, the petitioner generally completes Form I-864; if income is insufficient, a joint sponsor may be added. Upload tax returns and other financial evidence.
Complete the DS-260. Each applicant (including an accompanying spouse and children) completes a separate DS-260 and prints the confirmation page after submitting it.
Collect, scan and upload civil documents. The requirements for mainland Chinese documents are in the next section. Upload documents through CEAC; do not mail them to NVC. Keep the originals to bring to the interview.
NVC review. If corrections are needed, make them as prompted in CEAC and resubmit; once the review is complete, the case is “documentarily complete” (often called DQ).
Interview scheduling. NVC schedules interviews based on the appointment slots the consulate makes available and sends the interview notice. When you can get an interview depends on the consulate’s capacity, and NVC cannot predict it either.

Interview location rule (as of October 2026): The Department of State announced that, beginning November 1, 2025, NVC generally schedules immigrant visa applicants for interviews in the consular district where they reside, or, at the applicant’s request, in their country of nationality, with only limited exceptions for humanitarian, medical emergency or foreign policy reasons. For Chinese citizens living in mainland China, the interview location is Guangzhou. To request a different location, use NVC’s Public Inquiry Form; do not contact the consulate directly.

Mainland Chinese civil documents: prepare them according to the Department of State’s reciprocity schedule

The China page of the Department of State’s “Visa Reciprocity and Civil Documents” schedule sets out which authority issues mainland Chinese documents and what they are called. The key points:

Document	Issuing authority and form	Points to watch
Birth record	Notarial birth certificate (出生公证) issued by the local notary office	Must have an English translation attached and a certification that the translation conforms to the original; the Guangzhou consulate states that applicants born in mainland China must provide a notarial birth certificate issued by a notary office
Marriage record	Notarial marriage certificate (结婚公证) issued by the local notary office (the reciprocity schedule lists two acceptable forms of notarial marriage certificate)	Each marriage must have a corresponding document
Divorce record	Notarial divorce certificate (离婚公证) issued by the local notary office based on the divorce certificate, or on the original divorce judgment or mediation agreement	Every prior marriage must have proof of termination (divorce, death of a spouse, etc.)
Police certificate (no criminal record)	After receiving a certificate issued by the public security authorities or the exit-entry administration, the local notary office issues a notarial certificate of no criminal record (无犯罪记录公证书)	The reciprocity schedule requires the same notary office to attach the English translation in the notarial certificate; procedures vary by notary office: some accept online applications, others require you to appear in person
Court records	Notarized copy of the judgment issued by the local notary office	If you have ever been arrested, charged or convicted, you must disclose it truthfully and prepare the corresponding records
Military records	Notarial certificate issued by the local notary office based on the discharge certificate	Required if you have served in the military
Death record	Notarial death certificate issued by the local notary office	For example, when a former spouse has died, to prove the prior marriage ended

Who needs police certificates: Under the Department of State’s instructions, applicants age 16 or older who have lived in their country of nationality for more than 6 months must provide a certificate from that country; those who lived in another country for 12 months or more after age 16 must also provide that country’s certificate; a U.S. certificate is not required. A police certificate is valid for two years from issuance (except one from a former country of residence to which the applicant has not returned since it was issued). If it has expired or will expire before the interview, obtain a new one and bring the new original to the interview; do not submit it to NVC again. Applicants who turn 16 after the case becomes documentarily complete must also obtain one.
Household registration booklet (户口簿): Notary offices usually ask to see the household registration booklet when issuing notarial certificates, and the Guangzhou consulate lists household registration as one of the acceptable forms of evidence of a family relationship. We recommend bringing the original booklet to the interview in case it is requested.
Translations: For documents issued in China, the Guangzhou consulate requires translation and notarization by a local notary office in China; other non-English documents must have a certified English translation.
Documents from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan or third countries: The requirements differ; look up the page for each place in the Department of State’s reciprocity schedule.

How to apply for notarial certificates in China and which underlying records are needed is a matter for the notary office in China; follow the notary office’s requirements.

Medical exam: only at providers designated by the consulate

Every applicant (including accompanying family members) must complete the medical exam and required vaccinations with a “panel physician” recognized by the consulate before the interview; exams from other doctors are not accepted. According to the Guangzhou consulate’s supplemental instructions updated in February 2026, the designated provider in Guangdong is the Guangzhou International Travel Healthcare Center (广州国际旅行卫生保健中心), and there are also designated providers in Beijing, Fujian and Shanghai. The list of designated providers may change; before booking, check the latest list from the consulate or in your interview notice.

Book as soon as you receive your interview date. The Department of State notes that medical exam results may take up to 96 hours, and the exam and vaccinations must be completed before the interview date.
What to bring to the exam: Per the consulate’s instructions, this usually includes the interview notice, passport, photos, vaccination records and the DS-260 confirmation page. Pay the exam fee directly to the provider.
Do not open the sealed envelope. If the doctor gives you the results in a sealed envelope, bring it unopened to the interview and hand it to the consular officer.
The medical exam for consular processing is not the same procedure as Form I-693, which is used for adjustment of status inside the United States.

Photos and passports

Photos: The Guangzhou consulate requires two 2×2-inch (50 × 50 mm) color photos, full face, on a white background, without glasses, taken within the past 6 months; every applicant, regardless of age, must have them.
Passport: The Guangzhou consulate states that your passport must remain valid for at least 8 months beyond the date the visa is issued; also bring previous passports, including canceled ones. If your passport is about to expire, renew it before the interview.
Passport delivery registration: Before the interview, register on the official visa services website the consulate designates, following the consulate’s instructions. If your visa is approved, your passport will be returned by the method you chose at registration (for example, a designated bank branch or your home address); bring the registration confirmation. Use only the web addresses given in your interview notice and on the consulate’s official website.

Document checklist

The items below are common documents; your interview notice and the Guangzhou consulate’s current instructions control. Prepare a separate set for each applicant, keep originals and copies organized separately, and put them in order.

How the interview day works

Location: The Consulate General in Guangzhou is located at 43 Huajiu Road, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District, with the entrance on the Huaxia Road side, near Exit B1 of Zhujiang New Town metro station (check the consulate’s latest announcement).
Who can enter: Only the applicants named in the interview notice may enter the consulate. The Guangzhou consulate states that the petitioner does not need to attend and that the consulate cannot arrange for petitioners or attorneys to enter the waiting area or attend the visa interview. In a 2024 rule explanation, the Department of State also said that whether attorneys or other third parties may be present at visa interviews is up to each post. Applicants with special physical conditions may request to be accompanied by one assistant, subject to the consulate’s approval. Applicants under age 14 must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or person with legal custody.
Security screening: Bring only what you need for the interview and follow the security rules posted on the consulate’s official website; anyone who refuses screening cannot enter.
Process: Typically you wait in line, submit documents and have electronic fingerprints taken (the Department of State notes that inkless digital fingerprints are taken at the interview), and then a consular officer interviews you. The officer checks the contents of your DS-260 and documents, asks about the family relationship, how the marriage came about, work and education history, past U.S. travel, background questions and so on, and then decides whether to issue the visa.
Language: You may answer in Chinese or English; use the language in which you can express yourself most accurately. If you do not understand a question, ask the officer to repeat or rephrase it.

Principles for answering questions

Answer truthfully and answer what you know; if you do not know or do not remember, say so rather than guessing.
Do not memorize “model answers.” The officer cares about whether the facts are consistent and credible.
If an answer differs from your DS-260, I-130 or other documents already submitted, be able to explain the reason truthfully. If you discover a past error, tell your attorney before the interview and correct it with the officer on your own initiative at the interview.
Willfully making a material misrepresentation in an immigration matter can lead to a permanent bar to admission, with consequences far more serious than the original issue.

Possible outcomes after the interview

Approval

The officer will tell you how and when your passport and visa will be returned. While your passport is held by the consulate, carry another photo ID when traveling within China. When you receive the passport, immediately check the name, date of birth and other information on the visa, and contact the consulate right away if there is an error.

221(g) refusal: additional documents or administrative processing

If the officer does not have enough information to determine that you are eligible, the officer must refuse the visa under section 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). This is usually not a final decision:

Additional documents: The officer will give you a written refusal letter stating what is missing and how to submit it. Submit it according to the letter’s instructions and deadline.
Administrative processing: This means the consulate needs more time to review the case; the officer will tell you at the end of the interview. You can follow up through the CEAC visa status check. The Department of State advises waiting at least 180 days after the interview or after submitting additional documents before inquiring, except in emergencies; the Guangzhou consulate’s supplemental instructions separately mention waiting at least 90 days after the interview before inquiring. Follow the written instructions you receive.

Inadmissibility and waivers

If the officer finds that a ground of inadmissibility applies (for example, unlawful presence in the U.S., immigration fraud or misrepresentation, certain crimes, health-related grounds, or public charge), the visa will be refused. For some grounds, the law allows a waiver; the officer will tell you whether one is available and what to do next. A common route is filing an I-601 waiver application with USCIS. Consular officers’ refusals generally cannot be formally appealed to a court or administrative body, which is why an evaluation before the interview is especially important.

After you receive your visa

Pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee: The Department of State says that after you receive your visa and before you travel to the U.S., you should pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee; if it is not paid, USCIS will not issue your green card. For the amount and payment method, check the USCIS website.
Enter before the visa expires: An immigrant visa is usually valid for up to 6 months from issuance; if your medical exam results are valid for a shorter period, the visa validity will be shortened accordingly. You must arrive in the U.S. before the expiration date printed on the visa. The principal applicant must enter before or together with accompanying family members.
Entry and green card delivery: A visa does not guarantee admission; U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) decides whether to admit you. You become a permanent resident at the moment you are admitted, and USCIS then mails the physical green card to the U.S. address you provided. If you move after entering, report your change of address to USCIS promptly.
Do not make decisions before you have the visa: The Guangzhou consulate advises against buying plane tickets, quitting your job or selling your home before you receive your visa.

Children about to turn 21: watch the CSPA

To immigrate as a “child,” a son or daughter generally must be under 21 and unmarried. Under certain conditions, the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) allows age to be calculated in a way set by law so that a child who has turned 21 can still be treated as a child; preference categories also require the applicant to “seek to acquire” permanent residence within one year after a visa becomes available. The calculation differs by category; if your child is close to 21, estimate early with the CSPA child age calculator and have an attorney check the result.

Recent policy changes (as of October 2026)

Immigrant visa policy has changed frequently since 2025. The following is only an overview; check the latest rules again before your interview:

Interview location: Beginning November 1, 2025, interviews are generally scheduled by country of residence or nationality; see above.
Pause on immigrant visas for certain nationalities: Beginning January 21, 2026, the Department of State paused immigrant visa issuance to nationals of 75 countries, citing public charge risk; mainland China was not on the list. The Department of State’s page indicates that, because of a court order in CLINIC v. Rubio, the pause has not been enforced since August 21, 2026.
Travel restriction proclamation: A presidential proclamation effective January 1, 2026 (Proclamation 10998) restricts visa issuance to nationals of certain countries; mainland China is not included. The list is reviewed and adjusted periodically; if you hold another country’s passport or have dual nationality, check separately.
Public charge review: The Department of State emphasizes that consular officers consider age, health, family, finances, education and skills, and use of U.S. public benefits as a whole to determine whether an applicant is likely to become a public charge. Your Affidavit of Support materials should be solid, and you should describe your health and finances truthfully.

Common mistakes

Bringing a certificate from the local police station directly to the interview. The consulate requires a notarial certificate of no criminal record issued by a notary office; the Guangzhou consulate expressly states that the local notary office in China is the only authority that can issue a Chinese police certificate.
Not noticing that the police certificate has expired. The two-year validity runs from the date of issuance, and in cases with long waits it often expires before the interview.
Having the medical exam at an ordinary hospital. Only exams from providers designated by the consulate are valid.
Leaving out children or prior marriages. The DS-260 must list all children and all former spouses; omissions can affect children’s future immigration and may be considered inaccurate information.
Bringing only copies. At the NVC stage you upload scans, but you must bring originals to the interview.
Insufficient passport validity. According to the Guangzhou consulate, your passport must remain valid for at least 8 months beyond the date the visa is issued.
Letting the case sit after receiving NVC’s notice. Under INA 203(g), if you do not apply within one year after a visa becomes available, the case may be terminated.
Using an agent who “guarantees” a visa. The Guangzhou consulate warns applicants to beware of anyone claiming to guarantee a visa; make appointments and registrations only through official websites.

How we can help

Document preparation on the U.S. side: the I-130 and I-864 Affidavit of Support, joint sponsor materials, organizing the sponsor’s tax returns and proof of income, and arranging translation and notarization of U.S. documents;
Review before submission to NVC: checking that the DS-260, civil documents and financial evidence are complete and consistent, to reduce the chance of being asked for corrections;
Mock interview before the interview: going over the facts of the case and likely questions in Chinese, and pointing out inconsistencies in the documents (attorneys cannot enter the Guangzhou consulate to accompany you to the interview);
Follow-up after a 221(g) refusal: analyzing the refusal letter, preparing the additional documents, and evaluating whether a ground of inadmissibility is involved and whether an I-601 or other waiver is available;
Working with notary offices in China: explaining the consulate’s requirements for notarial certificates according to the Department of State’s reciprocity schedule and helping you communicate with the notary office in China. Our firm provides U.S. immigration legal services only and does not give opinions on Chinese law or on notary offices’ procedures.

Frequently asked questions

Can my family member in the U.S. (the petitioner) come with me to the interview in Guangzhou?

They can travel with you to Guangzhou, but generally cannot enter the consulate. The Guangzhou consulate states that only the applicants named in the interview notice may enter and that the consulate cannot arrange for petitioners or attorneys to enter the waiting area or attend the interview. The petitioner also does not need to be present.

Can an attorney attend the interview with me?

Generally, no. Whether attorneys may be present is up to each post, and the Guangzhou consulate’s current instructions are that it does not arrange for attorneys to attend visa interviews. An attorney can review your documents and do a mock interview with you beforehand, and handle additional documents and waivers afterward.

Can I use a no-criminal-record certificate from the police station?

Not directly. Under the Department of State’s reciprocity schedule, the local notary office should issue a notarial certificate of no criminal record, with an English translation attached, based on the certificate from the public security authorities. Make sure it is still within its two-year validity at the time of the interview.

Can I have the medical exam at another hospital?

No. Only exams by the consulate’s designated panel physicians are accepted. The designated provider in Guangdong is the Guangzhou International Travel Healthcare Center, and there are also designated providers in Beijing, Fujian and Shanghai; check the consulate’s latest list.

Does a 221(g) refusal letter mean I have been denied?

Not necessarily. Most 221(g) refusals are requests for additional documents or administrative processing; after you submit what the letter asks for, the case may continue and the visa may be issued. If a ground of inadmissibility is behind it, however, you will need a separate evaluation of whether a waiver is available.

What if I find a mistake in my DS-260 at the time of the interview?

You cannot change a DS-260 yourself after submitting it. You can contact NVC through its Public Inquiry Form, or explain and correct it with the consular officer on your own initiative at the interview. Do not hide it, and do not change your story on the spot or make up reasons.

How soon must I enter the U.S. after receiving my visa?

You must enter before the expiration date printed on the visa. Immigrant visas are usually valid for up to 6 months; if your medical exam results are valid for a shorter period, the visa will be too. Remember to pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee before you travel.