How to apply for a medical visa for overseas medical treatment?

1. What visa do I need to apply for going abroad for medical treatment?

Take the United States as an example, there are nine kinds of visas: business and tourist visas (B 1, B2 visa); Work visas (H, L, O, P and Q visas); Student visa (visa F 1, visa m1); Exchange visiting scholar visa (J visa); Transit/crew and crew visas (C and D visas); Religious worker visa (R visa); Domestic employee visas (B 1, A3, G5 visas); Journalist or media visa (I visa); Other visa categories. Overseas medical treatment requires the first type: business tourist visa (B 1/B2).

Business and tourist visas are mainly used for short-term business travel (B 1) or sightseeing/seeking medical services (B2). Generally speaking, the B 1 visa is issued to applicants who go to the United States to engage in short-term business activities, attend meetings in the fields of science and technology/education/specialty/business, dispose of real estate or negotiate contracts. B2 visa is issued to overseas medical/leisure/entertainment applicants, including sightseeing, visiting relatives and friends, medical treatment and other social, social or service activities.

2. Overseas medical visa application conditions

If you want to apply for a business and tourist visa, you must prove to the visa officer that you meet the visa application conditions stipulated in the US Immigration and Naturalization Act (INA). According to Article 2 14(b) of the Immigration Naturalization Law, all B 1/B2 visa applicants are regarded as "immigration-oriented" unless they can prove that they meet the following conditions:

(1) The purpose of going to the United States is a short-term visit, such as attending business/leisure/medical activities;

(2) The planned stay in the United States is limited and definite;

(3) There are enough funds to pay all expenses during their stay in the United States;

(4) Having a residence and strong social and economic ties outside the United States, and being able to ensure that they can return as scheduled after traveling to the United States;

(5) In some cases, private employees or domestic employees and seafarers working on ships in the outer continental shelf area are eligible to apply for a B 1 visa.

3. Materials required for overseas medical visas

(1) Pay the application fee of 160 USD and submit the following materials:

Electronic application form for non-immigrant visa (DS- 160). For more information about DS- 160, please visit the DS- 160 webpage.

A valid travel passport to the United States must be valid for at least 6 months outside the scheduled stay in the United States (except for countries that have special agreements to enjoy visa exemption). If the passport contains more than one person, each visa applicant needs to submit a separate application.

A 2-inch ×2-inch (5. 1 cm ×5. 1 cm) photo taken within half a year.

If a visa is issued, a visa reciprocity fee may be required depending on the nationality of the applicant.

Show an interview appointment letter to prove that you have made an appointment for an interview from this service channel.

(2) The following documents can also be provided to the visa officer:

Current income certificate, tax bill, real estate license or enterprise property certificate and asset certificate.

The route and/or other description of the travel plan.

Letter of introduction from the applicant's unit, detailing the applicant's position, salary, entry time, whether to allow vacation, and the purpose of going to the United States for business activities (if any).

Criminal/court record (no matter where you were arrested or convicted, even if you have served your sentence or been pardoned).

If the applicant has been to the United States before, please bring the corresponding identification or visa identification documents, especially all previous American visas (including expired visas).

(3) The medical visa must also provide the following documents:

A medical certificate issued by a local doctor in China, stating the applicant's illness and the reason for going to the United States for treatment.

A letter from a doctor or medical institution in the United States indicating that he is willing to provide treatment services to the applicant, and detailing the expected course of treatment and treatment costs (including medical treatment fees, hospitalization fees and all medical-related expenses).

If an individual or organization pays travel expenses, treatment expenses and living expenses for the applicant, it shall issue the corresponding proof of funds.

If the guarantor who pays the above fees is an individual, he/she must provide a certified copy of the relevant bank voucher or income/deposit certificate or income tax return to prove his/her financial source.

Note: Please do not use false materials. Deception or distortion of facts may lead to permanent refusal. In order to protect personal privacy, the applicant should bring the materials into the embassy or consulate in a sealed manner.

4. Where can I get an overseas medical visa?

China residents should apply for a visa at the U.S. embassy or consulate in the territory where their permanent residence belongs, even if the applicant's permanent residence is different from his domicile.

(1) Beijing Embassy: Beijing, Tianjin, Gansu, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Inner Mongolia, Jiangxi, Ningxia, Shandong, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Qinghai and Xinjiang.

(2) Consulate General of Chengdu: Chongqing, Guizhou, Sichuan, Tibet and Yunnan.

(3) Consulate General of Guangzhou: Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan.

(4) Shanghai Consulate General: Anhui, Jiangsu, Shanghai and Zhejiang.

(5) Consulate General of Shenyang: Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning.

(6) Consulate General of Hong Kong: Hong Kong and Macao.

5. The basis for the visa officer to judge whether the visa is passed.

America is an open society. Unlike many countries, the United States does not impose internal controls on most tourists, such as requiring foreign citizens to register with the local government. According to the requirements of American immigration law, visa officers must strictly examine all visa applicants, and unless the applicants have proof to the contrary, they will be regarded as "having an immigration tendency". In order to ensure that foreign citizens can travel freely in the United States, the applicant should be responsible for providing proof of returning to China as scheduled before the visa officer can issue a visitor or student visa.

In most cases, visa officers can handle visa applications by simply interviewing and reviewing the binding certification materials provided by the applicants. The most common reason for refusing a visa is that the applicant cannot prove that he has no reason to have the right of abode outside the United States. Applicants must prove the existence of the above right of abode, indicating that they are bound by necessity (work, residence, family members and bank deposits, etc.). ), which can force them to leave the United States and return to China after a short stay. According to American law, the applicant has the responsibility to provide such proof.

6. The best time to apply for an overseas medical visa

Applicants usually have a waiting period between visa appointment and interview. It may take several weeks to go to the corresponding embassy or consulate for an interview. You can check the average waiting time of visa reservation on the website of the State Council, USA. In addition, the post-interview processing procedure may delay the issuance of visas for a period of time. When your application requires an additional administrative hearing, the time required will vary according to the circumstances of the case, but it usually takes one to three months. Therefore, the visa office advises all applicants to make an appointment for an interview as soon as possible according to their itinerary.

7. How to apply for overseas medical treatment and urgent interview?

If there are some unforeseen visit needs, if the conditions of the embassy or consulate permit, you can apply for an emergency interview. Accepting emergency medical ambulance service and accompanying relatives or employers to seek emergency medical ambulance service are one of the conditions that meet the requirements.

(1) required documents:

A statement letter issued by Dr. China explaining the patient's physical condition and the reasons for seeking medical assistance in the United States.

A letter of certification issued by an American doctor or hospital, certifying that the treatment is ready and indicating the approximate medical expenses.

Proof of payment for treatment.

(2) Application process:

Fill in the electronic application form for non-immigrant visa (DS- 160).

Pay the visa application fee.

Schedule the interview time online and choose the earliest interview date.

If the embassy or consulate general approves the application, you will receive an email reminding you to arrange an emergency interview online; If the embassy or consulate refuses to apply for an expedited interview, you will receive a corresponding email notice, and you should continue to use the current appointment interview time.

Please come to the American embassy or consulate general for an interview at the appointed time. You need to bring a printed letter of appointment, a printed confirmation page of DS- 160 form, photos of the last six months and all new and old passports. If any of the above materials is missing, the application will not be accepted.