You must enroll in EVUS if you are a Chinese national holding a 10-year B1/B2, B1 or B2 visa in a People's Republic of China (PRC) passport. Enrollment has carried a fee since September 30, 2025. Federal Register notices set it at $30.75 from January 1, 2026 and at $31.75 from October 16, 2026 (details below). You enroll only on the official site, evus.gov, and most answers come within minutes, though some take up to 72 hours. Without a valid enrollment, an airline may not issue you a boarding pass, so do it well before you fly.
Who has to enroll, and who does not
The requirement has been mandatory since November 29, 2016. It covers all nationals of China who hold a maximum-validity (10-year) B1/B2, B1 or B2 visa in a PRC-issued passport and travel to the United States. EVUS is a separate step from the visa: your visa stays valid, and you do not need to apply for a new one.
| Your situation | Do you need EVUS? |
|---|---|
| 10-year B1/B2, B1 or B2 visa in a PRC passport | Yes |
| One-year visa in a PRC passport | No. CBP says EVUS applies only to 10-year B1/B2, B1 and B2 visas |
| Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR or Taiwan passport | Not required. CBP says these travelers may continue to travel as they do now |
| PRC passport with a 10-year visa, but you live in Canada | Yes. Residence does not matter |
| Child or infant with a 10-year visa in a PRC passport | Yes. There is no age exemption, and the CBP FAQ says all travelers regardless of age need a valid enrollment |
| Two PRC passports (for example official and personal), each with a 10-year visa | Yes, twice. Enrollment is tied to the individual visa, so each visa needs its own |
| Trip to Guam | Yes. The requirement applies to Guam and any other US destination |
| Entering by land or sea | Yes. CBP says the same requirement applies at land and sea ports of entry |
A note on Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan: the exemption is about the travel document. CBP says anyone from these regions who travels on a PRC passport with a 10-year B1/B2, B1 or B2 visa must enroll.
What EVUS costs in 2026
There is a fee. Do not treat EVUS as free. The amount is set by three notices in the Federal Register, one for each US fiscal year (FY):
| Federal Register notice | Page date | Amount in the notice | Charged from |
|---|---|---|---|
| CBP notice 2025-16453 (90 FR 42025) | August 28, 2025 | FY 2025: $30 | September 30, 2025 |
| CBP notice 2025-20304 (90 FR 52085) | November 19, 2025 | FY 2026: $30.75 ($30 plus a $0.75 inflation adjustment) | January 1, 2026 |
| CBP notice 2026-20185 (91 FR 62534) | October 1, 2026 (the notice says it was filed September 30, 2026) | FY 2027: $31.75 ($30.75 plus a $1.00 inflation adjustment) | October 16, 2026 |
Read together, the dates mean that $30.75 applies from January 1, 2026 and $31.75 replaces it from October 16, 2026. All three notices say the fee is paid at the time of enrollment and is charged in addition to any other fee applicable by law.
Other official pages also state an amount:
| Official page | What it says about the fee |
|---|---|
| evus.gov home page | For a citizen of China who must enroll for a new EVUS, "Fee for enrollment is $30.75 USD". The page gives no date for this amount |
| US Embassy China, nonimmigrant visas page (Chinese-language page; notice marked updated February 3, 2026) | Each update is charged $30 through evus.gov, starting September 30, 2025 |
| travel.state.gov, Visitor Visa page | As of September 30, 2025, a $30.00 fee is charged for each new enrollment, payable through evus.gov |
The $30 on the US Embassy China page and the travel.state.gov page is the FY 2025 amount, charged from September 30, 2025, the same figure as in the first notice above. The $30.75 on the evus.gov home page, which shows no date, is the same as the FY 2026 amount. None of these three pages mentions the $31.75 amount that starts on October 16, 2026.
The legal background comes from a CBP notice in the Customs Bulletin (Vol. 59, No. 37, September 10, 2025). Under the law known as HR-1 (Public Law 119-21), CBP began assessing the new EVUS fee on September 30, 2025. The statute sets a minimum fee of $30 for fiscal year 2025, you pay at the time of enrollment, and the fee is adjusted every year for inflation. The FY 2026 notice says the inflation adjustment was $0.81, rounded down to the next lowest multiple of $0.25, which gives $0.75. The FY 2027 notice does the same with $1.03, which gives $1.00.
Older CBP pages, including CBP's 2016 launch announcement and one answer in the CBP FAQ, still say there is no fee for now. Those texts predate the fee that began on September 30, 2025.
The evus.gov home page lists the payment methods it accepts: MasterCard, VISA, American Express, Discover (JCB or Diners Club only) and UnionPay. The pages that show the fee do not say what happens to the fee if an enrollment comes back unsuccessful. If that matters to you, ask the call center (contact details below).
How to enroll on evus.gov
Type evus.gov into your browser yourself and use only that site. It is operated by the US government, and enrollments must be submitted online. The site is available in English and Mandarin Chinese, and it works on phones and tablets. You need an internet connection and the items the evus.gov home page lists: a valid Chinese passport, a full-term 10-year US visa of class B1, B2 or B1/B2, your contact information including the address of your US destination, and a payment method. The page says these may also be required where they apply: aliases or other names, a Global Entry ID number, your employer's address and phone number, and the name, address and phone of a US point of contact.
The steps. The home page shows seven: answer the disclaimer, enter travel document information, enter enrollee information, enter travel information, answer the eligibility questions, review the enrollment, and pay.
What the form asks for. CBP says the form covers your name, birth date, emergency contact, passport information, biographical and employment information, and questions about travel eligibility. It asks for no photo and no fingerprints. An evus.gov help topic also refers to a social media question added to the form in September 2020. CBP says most of the information is already part of your DS-160 visa application, though some questions are worded differently.
Language. You can read the questions in Chinese, but you must answer them in English.
US point of contact. If you don't have one, CBP says to answer "unknown". If you have travel plans but no direct contact, you can put the name of your hotel or your US tour group contact in the "Name" field.
How long it takes. The notice at the bottom of the evus.gov FAQ page estimates an average of 20 minutes to complete an enrollment. That is an official estimate, not a promise.
Getting help with the form. A friend, relative, travel industry professional or another third party may submit the enrollment for you. You stay responsible for the truthfulness and accuracy of everything submitted. The evus.gov menu also has a "Group of Enrollments" option, and third parties can pay for applicants and view payment receipts.
If the site won't cooperate. CBP lists these fixes:
- Use a browser that supports 128-bit encryption, accepts cookies and has JavaScript on.
- Try another browser or computer.
- Check whether your security settings are set so high that they block the site.
- If a page keeps reloading, look for a required field (marked with a red asterisk) that is empty or has an invalid character.
- Some internet providers are blocked over spam concerns, so you may need to ask your provider.
Results, status and how long an enrollment lasts
Speed. CBP says the vast majority of enrollments are processed within minutes, but some take up to 72 hours. CBP cannot guarantee a maximum processing time and encourages you to enroll when you start planning the trip. Expedited enrollment is not possible, and US embassies and consulates cannot speed it up.
Checking your status. You will not get a confirmation email or text. Click the "Check Existing Enrollment" button on the evus.gov home page. The evus.gov menu also has "Check EVUS Status" for individuals and groups. You do not need to print anything, because airlines verify your enrollment electronically.
How long it lasts. An enrollment generally lasts two years, or until your visa or passport expires, whichever comes first. An enrollment ends six months before your passport expires, because the US requires a passport with at least six months of remaining validity. A new passport or new visa means a new enrollment. The US Embassy China page describes the same rhythm: an update every two years.
If your information hasn't changed. You still need to enroll again. You can review your details in the system, and if they are still accurate the new enrollment is valid for the same period.
Mistakes, "Unsuccessful Enrollment" and new passports
You made a mistake. CBP says any update you make, including a correction, is a new enrollment. The one exception it describes: with a valid enrollment, you can update your US point of contact, current job or address information without submitting a new enrollment. A correction that requires a new enrollment carries a fee. The embassy page says each update is charged $30 through evus.gov starting September 30, 2025, which is the FY 2025 amount; the Federal Register notices above set $30.75 from January 1, 2026 and $31.75 from October 16, 2026.
You got "Unsuccessful Enrollment". CBP says this can come from an administrative or input error, such as incomplete or inaccurate information. Do not re-enroll right away. Wait at least 24 hours, and first read cbp.gov/evus or contact the EVUS call center. US embassies and consulates cannot give details about EVUS enrollments or resolve the problem.
You have a new passport. You need a new EVUS enrollment before your next trip. CBP recommends enrolling at least one week before you leave.
Your visa is still in the old passport. You do not need a new visa. When you enroll, enter the valid visa information together with the new passport information.
If you don't enroll, and what a successful enrollment does not guarantee
CBP says airlines receive EVUS information through their internal networks and may not issue a boarding pass to a traveler who needs EVUS and has no valid enrollment. If your trip has more than one flight, the enrollment is checked when you check in for the first flight. The same requirement applies at land and sea ports of entry. CBP also says travelers who haven't complied may be delayed in their travel plans.
You can enroll at any time, including at the airport. But responses can take up to 72 hours, so a last-minute enrollment can cost you the flight.
A valid enrollment is not a guarantee of entry. Like every visitor, you must show a CBP officer on arrival that you are admissible. CBP says neither a visa nor an EVUS enrollment guarantees admission.
Which case are you?
| If this describes you | Do this |
|---|---|
| You have a 10-year visa in a PRC passport and no valid enrollment | Enroll at evus.gov as soon as you plan a trip |
| Your enrollment is still valid and the trip falls inside it | Check your status on the evus.gov home page; no new enrollment is needed |
| Your two-year enrollment has run out | Enroll again before you fly |
| You just got a new passport | Enroll again with the new passport before your next trip; CBP recommends doing so at least one week before departure |
| Your valid visa is in your old passport | Enroll with the old visa details plus the new passport details |
| You have a one-year visa, or travel on a Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan passport | No EVUS needed |
| Your enrollment came back "Unsuccessful" | Wait 24 hours, and call or email the EVUS call center before you try again |
| Your child has a 10-year visa in a PRC passport | Enroll the child separately |
Who to contact for help
The EVUS Traveler Communications Center is at 00-1-202-325-0180, listed on the evus.gov home and FAQ pages. The evus.gov FAQ page says it is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. CBP's FAQ adds that it has Mandarin-speaking operators and is closed on US federal holidays. Email is evus@cbp.dhs.gov.
Calling costs nothing beyond whatever your phone provider charges to reach the number, which is based in Washington, DC. The call center can answer questions about EVUS, but it does not take enrollments; those must be submitted online. The evus.gov FAQ page also links to the CBP Info Center (help.cbp.gov) for submitting an inquiry.
Need flights or a hotel quote?
If you are planning a US trip and want a quote on flights or a hotel, send us your travel dates through our contact page. We handle the trip; EVUS you enroll in yourself at evus.gov.