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    Embassies and consulates · China · Shanghai

    Student and exchange visas at Shanghai

    As of September 17, 2026, the State Department lists a 1 month wait for the next student and exchange visa appointment at Shanghai, against a median of 15 days. 134 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

    Shanghai student wait over time

    Shanghai has ranged 3.9000000000000004 days to 4 months across 24 months on record, so treat today's figure as a snapshot rather than a guarantee. The median over that time was 1 month.

    Jul 243.9000000000000004 days – 4 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 Shanghai 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 Shanghai

    Shanghai issued 39 student and exchange visas in February 2026, 93% fewer than February 2025 (567). 18,616 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 Shanghai each month, October 2022 to February 2026. The monthly figures are listed below the chart.02k4k6k8k2023202420252026
    Monthly figures
    MonthVisas issued
    Feb 202639
    Jan 2026298
    Dec 2025584
    Nov 2025259
    Oct 2025215
    Sep 2025473
    Aug 20252,263
    Jul 20252,363
    Jun 20253,563
    May 20255,676
    Apr 20251,952
    Mar 2025931
    Feb 2025567
    Jan 2025726
    Dec 20241,516
    Nov 20241,000
    Oct 2024529
    Sep 2024381
    Aug 20241,504
    Jul 20245,639
    Jun 20247,717
    May 20245,617
    Apr 20242,234
    Mar 2024938
    Feb 2024511
    Jan 20241,045
    Dec 20232,862
    Nov 2023495
    Oct 2023724
    Sep 2023940
    Aug 20234,894
    Jul 20236,980
    Jun 20237,459
    May 20234,619
    Apr 20231,252
    Mar 2023693
    Feb 2023689
    Jan 2023818
    Dec 20221,717
    Nov 2022993
    Oct 2022512
    Visa classFeb 2026Feb 2025Past 12 monthsSum of monthly reports, not an official total
    F1Academic student1731215,250
    J1Exchange visitor131812,807
    J2Exchange visitor's spouse or child347333
    F2Academic student's spouse or child617207
    M1Vocational student01019

    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 Shanghai student visa figure changes

    Student and exchange (F, M, J): 1 month now

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    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 Shanghai 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 Shanghai

    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.