Application process

The application process and fee are the same as before. Applicants will have to book a face-to-face interview with the embassy and the result will come out soon after the interview. Those who are issued a visa will get their passports back after three working days.

"Many Chinese mistakenly believe that it's difficult to apply for a US visa. But I don't think it's the truth," he says.

"Youngsters only need to prove they've saved enough money for their trip to the US and have a clear purpose. But if they're applying for a Japanese or Schengen visa, the request for the applicant's financial situation is more rigid."

Hua Tian was glad to get her 10-year business and tourism visa, after queuing up for an hour on a recent cold and windy day outside the embassy in Beijing.

"It saves both time and money as we don't have to apply for the visa every year. I can just pack up and travel to the US when I want," says Hua, 28, an MBA student from Tsinghua University, who will visit the US for a seven-day exchange program.

At the same time, tourism bureaus and tour agencies are seizing the opportunities offered by the increasing number of Chinese visitors to the country.

"A major consideration for Chinese tourists choosing their overseas destinations is the visa policy," says Reene Ho-Phang, Great China managing director of Capital Region USA, an organization that promotes Washington DC, Virginia and Maryland as travel destinations.

"The US is a country worthy of in-depth and multiple tours. We're in negotiations to cooperate with Chinese tour agencies and operators to promote the capital region among Chinese and develop more tour products targeting the market," Ho-Phang says.