China calls US visacalls US visa regulations discriminatory and threatens countermeasures
China has urged the United States to withdraw new visa regulations it labels discriminatory, which require visa holders seeking extended admission to apply for DHS approval or gain readmission by traveling abroad.
The regulations, announced by DHS, affect travelers who wish to stay beyond their fixed period of admission, and China has warned it may impose retaliatory countermeasures if the U.S. does not reverse the policy.
This dispute matters as it could escalate diplomatic tensions between the two nations and impact visa holders globally.
- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security was established in 2002 following the September 11 attacks to unify border and immigration functions.
- China has previously imposed visa restrictions on U.S. officials in response to American policies on trade and human rights.
- Travelers gain readmission by leaving the U.S. and re-entering, a process that requires valid passports and approval from immigration officers.
