Visa InterviewsResearch

    Loading…

    VisaMind ↗

    Embassies and consulates · China · Beijing

    Student and exchange visas at Beijing

    As of September 17, 2026, the State Department lists a 5.5 months wait for the next student and exchange visa appointment at Beijing, against a median of 15 days. 182 of 186 posts list a shorter wait.

    Source: U.S. Department of State: Global Visa Wait Times · Published 2026-09-17 · Retrieved 2026-10-15 · Coverage 2026-09-17

    Beijing student wait over time

    Beijing has ranged same day to 5.5 months across 24 months on record, and today's figure is at the high end. It has been faster before, so re-check before making an irreversible decision. The median over that time was 11.1 days.

    Jul 24same day – 5.5 monthsSep 26

    Source: U.S. Department of State: Global Visa Wait Times · Published 2026-09-17 · Retrieved 2026-09-17 · Coverage 2022-11/2026-09

    Check whether a Beijing appointment fits your program start date →

    The same wait elsewhere in China

    Student and exchange (F, M, J), from the same State Department table. Applicants can usually interview at any post in their country of residence.

    Student and exchange visas issued at Beijing

    Beijing issued 524 student and exchange visas in February 2026, 27% fewer than February 2025 (713). 24,237 over the past 12 months (sum of monthly reports, not an official total). The count covers F-1, M-1, J-1 and their dependants.

    Nonimmigrant visas issued at Beijing each month, October 2022 to February 2026. The monthly figures are listed below the chart.05k10k2023202420252026
    Monthly figures
    MonthVisas issued
    Feb 2026524
    Jan 2026808
    Dec 20251,109
    Nov 2025640
    Oct 2025500
    Sep 2025837
    Aug 20253,335
    Jul 20253,267
    Jun 20252,771
    May 20255,994
    Apr 20253,371
    Mar 20251,081
    Feb 2025713
    Jan 2025633
    Dec 20241,896
    Nov 20241,214
    Oct 2024849
    Sep 2024881
    Aug 20242,195
    Jul 20247,409
    Jun 20247,636
    May 20247,843
    Apr 20242,295
    Mar 2024789
    Feb 2024691
    Jan 20241,228
    Dec 20232,542
    Nov 2023729
    Oct 2023659
    Sep 2023475
    Aug 20235,824
    Jul 20238,312
    Jun 20239,696
    May 20235,563
    Apr 20231,578
    Mar 2023625
    Feb 2023507
    Jan 2023988
    Dec 2022329
    Nov 2022577
    Oct 2022326
    Visa classFeb 2026Feb 2025Past 12 monthsSum of monthly reports, not an official total
    F1Academic student25435118,931
    J1Exchange visitor2072654,139
    J2Exchange visitor's spouse or child3872736
    F2Academic student's spouse or child2320356
    M1Vocational student2574
    M2001

    Sources: U.S. Department of State: Monthly Immigrant Visa Issuances and U.S. Department of State: Monthly Nonimmigrant Visa Issuances · Retrieved 2026-10-15 · Coverage 2022-10/2026-02

    Get an email when the Beijing student visa figure changes

    Student and exchange (F, M, J): 5.5 months now

    We email you once each time the State Department publishes a different figure. Every email has an unsubscribe link.

    What F-1 Student Visa applicants report being asked

    These figures come from 440 interview reports that applicants shared publicly, at every post rather than Beijing alone. They describe who chose to report, not every applicant.

    53%

    Education questions

    In about 235 reports

    31%

    Financial questions

    In about 135 reports

    21%

    Employment questions

    In about 90 reports

    Source: Visa Interviews Research release 2026.07.18-us-v1 · Published 2026-07-18 · Coverage 2024-03 to 2026-07Every F-1 Student Visa finding →

    Other visas at Beijing

    Where these figures come from

    The State Department publishes each of these separately, on its own schedule. We show each one with its own date and never add figures from one to another.