What documents do I need to move to United States as a China citizen?

Typical pathway: Work Visa

Last verified: September 22, 2026

Valid People's Republic of China passport (before) — Source: https://china.usembassy-china.org.cn/visas/
Original PRC passport with at least six months of validity beyond the intended date of entry into the United States, with blank visa pages. Chinese nationals must apply at the U.S. Embassy Beijing or a U.S. Consulate General in China (Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang, Wuhan) or in their country of residence.
DS-160 online nonimmigrant visa application confirmation page (before) — Source: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/employment/temporary-worker-visas.html
Completed online Form DS-160 for the H/L/O petition-based work visa category; the printed confirmation page with barcode must be brought to the consular interview.
Digital biometric photograph uploaded to DS-160 (plus one printed 5x5 cm print) (before) — Source: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/employment/temporary-worker-visas.html
Color photo meeting U.S. Department of State photograph requirements (plain white/off-white background, full-face view, neutral expression, taken within the last 6 months). This is the applicant's own biometric photo, not a passport copy. <cite index="12-1,12-7,12-8">The photo is uploaded during the DS-160; if the upload fails you must bring one printed photo in the required format</cite>.
Form I-797 Notice of Action (USCIS approval notice) with petition receipt number (before) — Source: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/employment/temporary-worker-visas.html
Original or copy of the USCIS approval notice for the employer's Form I-129 petition. <cite index="10-10,10-11">The receipt number printed on the approved Form I-129 or Form I-797 is required to schedule the visa interview</cite>. Do not book an interview or travel before the petition is approved.
Photocopy of the employer's filed Form I-129 petition package (before) — Source: https://www.uscis.gov/i-129
Copy of the Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (Form I-129) with the H-1B classification supplement / L-1 supplement as filed by the U.S. employer, provided to the employee by the sponsor. <cite index="10-2">L visa applicants included in a blanket petition must instead bring Form I-129S to the interview</cite>.
Certified Labor Condition Application (Form ETA-9035) (before) — Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification
Copy of the DOL-certified LCA underlying the H-1B petition, showing worksite, occupation and wage level. Applies to H-1B/H-1B3 petitions; not applicable to L-1 or O-1 cases.
Employer support / employment verification letter (before) — Source: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/employment/temporary-worker-visas.html
Letter on company letterhead from the U.S. petitioning employer confirming job title, duties, salary, employment start date, worksite address and petition validity period. <cite index="10-8">Consular officers may request additional documents to establish that you are qualified</cite>.
Original academic credentials with certified English translations (before) — Source: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/employment/temporary-worker-visas.html
Original or certified Chinese degree certificate(s), diplomas, transcripts (e.g., CHSI/CDGDC verification reports), professional licences and CV evidencing the specialty-occupation qualification. <cite index="20-6">Documents not in English must be accompanied by a certified English translation</cite>.
MRV visa application fee receipt and interview appointment confirmation (before) — Source: https://www.ustraveldocs.com
Proof of payment of the non-refundable machine-readable visa application fee and the printed interview appointment letter from the official appointment service. <cite index="6-3">ustraveldocs.com is the only website authorized by the U.S. Consulate General to provide visa information and application services</cite>; <cite index="8-2">visa application fees are non-refundable and non-transferable</cite>.
Visa issuance (reciprocity) fee receipt (before) — Source: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/employment/temporary-worker-visas.html
<cite index="10-13,10-14">After approval, applicants of certain nationalities may have to pay a visa issuance fee based on reciprocity</cite>. Verify the current China reciprocity schedule for your specific classification (H-1B, L-1, O-1) on travel.state.gov, as amounts and applicability change.
Hukou (household registration booklet, 户口簿) (before) — Source: https://china.usembassy-china.org.cn/visas/nonimmigrant-visas/
Chinese household registration booklet, frequently requested at China-based posts to confirm identity, residence and family relationships. <cite index="7-4,7-5">Posts in China list the household registration book (hukou) among originals to be brought to interviews where applicable</cite>. Verify with the specific consular post, as requirements vary.
Chinese resident identity card (shenfenzheng, 身份证) (before) — Source: https://china.usembassy-china.org.cn/visas/nonimmigrant-visas/
PRC national ID card, a separate identity item from the passport and the hukou; <cite index="7-6">posts in China accept the passport or shenfenzheng as an identification document</cite>. Bring the original plus a photocopy.
Social media identifiers disclosed on DS-160 with accounts set to public (before) — Source: https://china.usembassy-china.org.cn/visas/
Five-year social media handle history must be declared in the DS-160. <cite index="8-3">Applicants for H-1B, H-3 and H-4 (and other listed) visas are instructed to set the privacy settings on all social media accounts to "public" or "open" to facilitate identity and admissibility vetting</cite>.
Notarized marriage certificate and children's birth certificates for H-4/L-2 dependents (before) — Source: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/employment/temporary-worker-visas.html
Chinese marriage certificate and birth certificates (notarized, with certified English translation) proving the relationship for dependent visa applicants. <cite index="4-1,4-2">Each dependent needs a valid passport, pays the visa fee, submits passport-style photographs and shows evidence of the relationship, plus copies of the principal's passport, visa, I-94 and I-797 if applying separately</cite>.
Hand-carried entry packet at the U.S. port of entry (during) — Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Passport with the issued work visa foil plus the original I-797 approval notice and employer letter carried in hand luggage (not checked baggage) for CBP inspection. <cite index="2-6">CBP officers may request documents establishing your qualification as an H-1B worker</cite>; <cite index="3-20">CBP may also review electronic devices and social media</cite>.
Electronic Form I-94 arrival/departure record printout (during) — Source: https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov
Retrieve and print the electronic I-94 from the CBP website after admission and verify the class of admission (e.g., H1B) and the "admit until" date. <cite index="3-18">Obtain your electronic I-94 and review the expiration date for accuracy</cite>.
Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification (completed with employer) (during) — Source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (Form I-9)
Completed with the U.S. employer on/around the first day of work, presenting the passport with visa and the I-94. <cite index="28-1">Workers authorized to work for a specific employer do not need an EAD; they can use the I-94 record and the nonimmigrant visa showing the employer's name</cite>.
Social Security number application (Form SS-5) at an SSA field office (during) — Source: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10096.pdf
In-person application with the passport, work visa and I-94. <cite index="33-1">SSA presumes permission to work if you present a DHS-issued Form I-94 reflecting a classification permitting work</cite>. Apply about 10 days after arrival so DHS records can be verified.
State driver's license or state-issued ID card (after) — Source: U.S. state Department of Motor Vehicles (state-specific)
Obtained from the state DMV using the passport, visa, I-94 and Social Security card; validity is normally limited to the authorized period of stay. Documentary requirements differ by state — verify with the relevant state DMV.
Extension-of-stay Form I-797 approval notice (employer-filed I-129 extension) (after) — Source: https://www.uscis.gov/i-129
Before the I-94 expiry the employer files a new Form I-129 to extend status; retain each resulting I-797 approval notice as the record of continuous lawful status and work authorization. <cite index="16-2">Form I-129 is also used to request an extension of stay in these classifications</cite>.
Form I-765 Employment Authorization Document for an H-4 spouse (after) — Source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (Form I-765)
Only certain H-4 spouses may work: <cite index="36-17">H-4 spouses qualify for an EAD if the H-1B principal has an approved I-140 or has received H-1B extensions beyond the six-year limit</cite>. Does not apply to L-2 spouses, who are work-authorized incident to status.
Employment-based immigrant petition file (Form I-140 / DS-260 or I-485) (after) — Source: https://china.usembassy-china.org.cn/visas/immigrant-visas/employment-based-immigration/
For long-term residence stability, the employer-sponsored green card route. <cite index="6-1">For consular processing, the DS-260 immigrant visa application, Affidavit of Support where applicable and supporting documents go to the National Visa Center before interview scheduling</cite>. Chinese nationals face per-country waiting times in EB categories.
EVUS enrollment — not applicable to work visas (clarification item) (after) — Source: https://china.usembassy-china.org.cn/visas/nonimmigrant-visas/
<cite index="7-15">EVUS enrollment is required only for PRC passport holders travelling on 10-year B1/B2, B1 or B2 visas, updated every two years</cite>. H-1B/L-1/O-1 holders do not enrol in EVUS, but must do so separately if they also hold a 10-year B1/B2 visa and travel on it.

Not legal advice. Based on cached research — verify with official sources before making decisions.

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