Applying for a study visa in the United States: the embassy's X1 and X2 rows

The Chinese Embassy in the United States describes its visa process in the notice "Requirements and Procedures for Chinese Visa Application (Updated September, 2025)". The notice covers an online application through the New COVA System, uploaded and original documents, and two study entries: X1 or X2. The X1 entry is for study in China for more than 180 days, and the X2 entry is for study for no more than 180 days, as the embassy words them. These are that embassy's statements for the applicants it serves. Other Chinese missions publish their own pages.

Who the notice covers

The embassy lists the following areas within its consular jurisdiction: Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Delaware, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas and Puerto Rico. Before submitting the application, the applicant should confirm that they live in one of these states.

The notice says the New COVA System officially launched at the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. on September 30, 2025.

Application steps

The notice, under "I. Process of Visa Application", lists these steps:

1. Log on to the New COVA System to fill in the forms and upload materials for preliminary review.
2. When the application shows the status "Passport to be submitted", submit the passport and the originals listed below to the Visa Office during office hours.
3. Read the "Guidance on Visa Application" page on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa website, which the notice points to under "Important Tips for online COVA visa form filling".

Documents to upload online

The notice lists these documents for upload:

1. Passport bio-page and blank visa page. The passport's remaining validity must be more than 6 months, with at least 2 blank visa pages.
2. The latest Chinese visa or Chinese residence permit.
3. Proof of residence, for example a driver's licence, utility bill or bank statement.
4. If the applicant is a foreigner in the US, a photocopy of a green card, visa, I-20 or I-94 to prove legal residence in the US.
5. If the applicant is of Chinese nationality and this is the first Chinese visa application after naturalization in a foreign country, the bio-page of the Chinese passport and the naturalization certificate.
6. If the applicant's name has changed and this is the first Chinese visa application after the change, the name change document.
7. For a visa application by a minor of Chinese origin born in the US, the notice says to follow the guidance it gives for that case.

Documents to submit on site

The notice lists these as originals to present at the Visa Office:

1. The passport used for the visa application.
2. The application info-page showing the status "Passport to be submitted" and the barcode of the application form.
3. The old passport containing a previous Chinese visa or residence permit that is still valid.
4. If the applicant is of Chinese nationality, the latest Chinese passport, which the notice says is required for submission.
5. For a Q1 or S1 visa application, the original certificate showing the relationship between the applicant and the inviting individual, for verification.
6. Other original documents that the consular officials ask to be submitted on site.

The X1 and X2 entries

The notice gives the following text for each entry.

X1

The embassy describes X1 as issued to those who intend to study in China for a period of more than 180 days.

• Foreign higher education institution students: the Confirmation Form for Study in China (Form JW201 or Form JW202), and a photocopy of the admission letter issued by a school or other entity in China.
• Foreign elementary, junior and senior high school students: the Confirmation Form for Elementary Stage Students Study in China. The notice says that for foreign elementary, junior and senior high school students who reside in China for family reunion purposes, an X1 visa application is not compulsory.

The X1 entry names no language programme.

X2

The embassy describes X2 as issued to those who intend to study in China for a period of no more than 180 days.

• An admission notice issued by a school or other entity in China.
• The Information Form for Foreign Students' Short-term Visit (Form DQ, "if have").

Fees and processing times

This article gives no fees and no processing times. Part I, "Process of Visa Application", names no fee.

Sources

• Requirements and Procedures for Chinese Visa Application (Updated September, 2025), Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States (Ministry of Foreign Affairs mission)

Checked 11 October 2026.

This page is an unofficial summary. It is not legal or immigration advice, and it is not published by the bodies named. If the official text or the instructions of the body handling your case differ from this page, the official text and those instructions prevail.