EVUS Application Form | EVUS visa enrollment online process

EVUS Form: Step-by-Step Guide

The EVUS application is easy and straightforward. The form can be completed online in minutes from anywhere in the world, including for your home or office.

All applicants must fill in the electronic form as part of the application. This is designed to be easy so that you can complete it independently. However, it’s possible to help friends or family members (especially children and minors) as they submit their individual applications.

In this article, readers will find detailed information regarding the application form and a step-by-step guide to complete it successfully.

What Is Needed to Register with EVUS?

In order to successfully enroll with the EVUS system, you must have:

Access to a reliable internet connection
A device that can connect to the internet
An active email address
A valid passport issued by the People’s Republic of China
A valid 10 years B1, B2 or B1/B2 visa for the United States of America

Both of these latter documents must be used not only to fill out the form, but also to travel to the U.S.

Step 1: Basic information

Applicants must first provide their basic information on the EVUS form.

This covers personal details as well as national ID information, including:

Last and first name
Date of birth
Gender
Country and city of birth
National identification number

You should provide your full name exactly as it appears on your valid passport.

The national identification number is the number of an official ID (other than the passport.) Those who do not have a national ID can write ‘unknown.’

Step 2: Travel Document Information

You are then required to provide details of the passport you will use to travel to the U.S. Please note that the passport must be issued by the People’s Republic of China and must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival.

Passport questions include:

Country and date of issue
Document number
Passport expiry date

The EVUS form also requires the details of the class-B U.S. visa held by the applicant. The form must be completed with the B1/B2 Visa Foil Number, which is the red number appearing on the visa.

Step 3: Other Nationalities and Passports

The EVUS form then asks you details regarding other nationalities, citizenship, and passports. It’s not a problem if you have double nationality, but it is necessary to travel with the Chinese passport. This must also be used as the main document in the form.

Should you hold another nationality or passport, more information will be required. For passports, this would be the number and expiration year. Should the applicant not remember this, they can simply write ‘unknown’ for the number and ‘0000’ for the year.

Step 4: Contact Details

It is essential to have an active email address. This is where future communication regarding the application will be sent. Should the EVUS enrollment be successful, this will also be communicated via email.

A mobile telephone number is also required. Those without a mobile phone can provide a third-party number. You can then provide your home address.

Although the EVUS form asks for the details of the applicant’s parents, these fields are optional.

Step 5: Employment History

In this field, those who hold or have held a job are asked to provide the details of their employment history and employers. It is also possible to fill these fields with ‘student’, ‘stay-at-home parent’, ‘self-employed’, and more.

Step 6: Travel Plans

It is important for the U.S. authorities to know your travel plans. This is in order to ensure your safety and that of American residents and, at the same time, have enough personnel to assist travelers at U.S. points of entry.

First, Chinese travelers are asked whether they plan to pass through the U.S. while en route to a different destination. Please note that the EVUS enrollment is mandatory for transit too.

Should you indicate the U.S. as your final destination, they will be asked for your phone and address details while in the country. This information is optional. You will also have the opportunity to provide the details of an emergency contact.

Step 7: Eligibility Questions

Besides holding valid and eligible documents, you will also be assessed to confirm that you do not pose a threat to the safety and health of U.S. citizens and fellow travelers.

This part of the form is mandatory and includes questions regarding:

Health
Any criminal records
Travel and visa history

After confirming that all the information provided in the questionnaire is true to the best of your knowledge and accepting the terms and conditions, you can proceed to finalize the EVUS enrollment request.

Optional Social Media Question on the EVUS application

US Homeland Security recently requested adding optional questions about social media presence on the EVUS form.

This extra question asks Chinese nationals for their social media accounts before entering the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents can use this social media information to further vet a traveler.

However, the questions about social media in the EVUS application are voluntary. EVUS applicants that do not wish to answer these questions can submit their application without any negative consequences.

Step 8: Pay the EVUS fee

To successfully complete the EVUS form, you need to pay the EVUS fee using a credit or debit card. Most major credit cards are accepted.

When prompted, you need to enter:

Card holder’s name
Card number
Expiration date
CVV/CVC number (the three or four-digit number of the back of a debit or credit card).

Once you have entered the information, you can complete the payment by clicking the ‘Submit Payment’ button. Then the EVUS enrollment is complete.

Note that your card details are protected through encryption and are only stored for as long as necessary. The EVUS registration uses advanced technology designed by the Department of Homeland Security to protect all the information you provide.

Who Needs to Complete the EVUS Application?

EVUS, the U.S. Electronic Visa Update System, was introduced to make sure that the details of long-term visa holders are always up to date. It is a simplified electronic registration process that only takes minutes to complete.

As of November 2016, all Chinese citizens holding a class B visa for the United States must enroll with EVUS and complete the online form before they travel. This means that everyone who holds a valid Chinese passport and a B1/B2, B1, or B2 visa must apply for EVUS or will be denied entry into the U.S.

Please note that EVUS is not a substitute for a visa but rather, an additional requirement. A valid visa is still necessary to cross the border.

When Should I Complete the EVUS form?

As explained before, the EVUS form only takes minutes to fill out. If the application form has been filled in correctly, the EVUS request is usually processed within minutes too.

However, you should always apply at least 72 hours before departure in order to allow for potential delays. Most delays are caused by bank holidays or an incomplete or inaccurate registration form.

If you require an EVUS urgently, you can apply using the priority service for guaranteed 1 hour processing. You select this option on the payment page.

Can the Information Be Updated After Submitting the EVUS Form?

Once an EVUS form has been completed and approved, you can update most of the information. Chinese visitors can change their address, contact details (in the U.S. and abroad), transit information, emergency contacts, and other information.

However, you cannot update passport or U.S. visa information (including name, sex, and nationality) after you have completed the EVUS enrollment. If the passport or U.S. visa expires you need to re-enroll with EVUS by completing the EVUS form again.

EVUS Form

USA Visa Update Application