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    Embassies and consulates · China · Shanghai

    Temporary work visas at Shanghai

    As of September 17, 2026, the State Department lists a 3.5 months wait for the next temporary work visa appointment at Shanghai, against a median of 15 days. 173 of 184 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

    The same wait elsewhere in China

    Petition-based work (H, L, O, P, Q), from the same State Department table. Applicants can usually interview at any post in their country of residence.

    Temporary work visas issued at Shanghai

    Shanghai issued 380 temporary work visas in February 2026, 58% fewer than February 2025 (896). 10,933 over the past 12 months (sum of monthly reports, not an official total). The count covers H, L, O, P and Q classes and their dependants.

    Nonimmigrant visas issued at Shanghai each month, October 2022 to February 2026. The monthly figures are listed below the chart.05001k1.5k2k2023202420252026
    Monthly figures
    MonthVisas issued
    Feb 2026380
    Jan 2026991
    Dec 2025921
    Nov 20251,096
    Oct 2025987
    Sep 2025959
    Aug 20251,015
    Jul 20251,054
    Jun 2025943
    May 2025849
    Apr 2025903
    Mar 2025835
    Feb 2025896
    Jan 20251,548
    Dec 20241,453
    Nov 20241,478
    Oct 2024901
    Sep 2024813
    Aug 2024829
    Jul 2024841
    Jun 2024791
    May 2024854
    Apr 2024508
    Mar 2024523
    Feb 2024398
    Jan 2024609
    Dec 2023460
    Nov 2023486
    Oct 2023775
    Sep 2023772
    Aug 20231,276
    Jul 2023494
    Jun 2023488
    May 2023624
    Apr 2023598
    Mar 2023786
    Feb 2023696
    Jan 2023545
    Dec 2022460
    Nov 2022390
    Oct 2022243
    Visa classFeb 2026Feb 2025Past 12 monthsSum of monthly reports, not an official total
    H1BSpecialty occupation worker1004395,841
    L1Intracompany transferee1211641,684
    L2Intracompany transferee's spouse or child1001471,597
    H4H worker's spouse or child10791,050
    O1Person of extraordinary ability3246482
    O334100
    P14798
    Q18229
    P30024
    O20822
    H3004
    H1B1101
    P4101

    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 work visa figure changes

    Petition-based work (H, L, O, P, Q): 3.5 months now

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

    What H-1B and Employment Visas applicants report being asked

    These figures come from 315 interview reports that applicants shared publicly, at every post rather than Shanghai alone. They describe who chose to report, not every applicant.

    58%

    Employment questions

    In about 185 reports

    41%

    Current employment

    In about 130 reports

    22%

    Identity verification

    In about 70 reports

    Source: Visa Interviews Research release 2026.07.18-us-v1 · Published 2026-07-18 · Coverage 2024-03 to 2026-07Every H-1B and Employment Visas 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.