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Enoch Wong

The US consulate in the central Chinese city of Wuhan has suspended all visa interviews, citing “unsafe” indoor temperatures it blamed on building management.
In a public notice posted on its official social media account on Friday, the consulate said temperatures in its interview waiting area exceeded 33 degrees Celsius (91 degrees Fahrenheit) in the morning.
It accused the building management of “routinely delaying the activation of air conditioning” and criticised it for imposing “extra security procedures” that required visa applicants to wait in the sun for extended periods.
The suspension comes during peak US student visa season in China, with about 200,000 processed annually by the Wuhan mission alone.
“We are working with the building management to improve conditions,” the consulate said. “We will resume visa services as soon as we can ensure the health and safety of our applicants and staff.”
It apologised for the inconvenience and said cancelled appointments could be rescheduled through the visa application system.
Visa services at other US missions across China remain unaffected, although the earliest available slots typically involve a wait of several weeks.
Consular services for US citizens would continue as scheduled, the Wuhan consulate said.
The mission relocated to the sixth floor of the 68-storey Minsheng Bank Building in central Wuhan last year. Building supervising firm Wuhan Hongbo Property Management occupies offices one floor above the consulate.
The South China Morning Post has contacted both the US embassy in Beijing and Wuhan Hongbo Property Management for comment.
The consulate’s decision comes amid a severe summer heatwave in Wuhan, with multiple high-temperature alerts issued for this month forecasting peaks of above 40 degrees.
Earlier in the week, the consulate had warned about health risks posed by the rising temperatures, saying it had requested building management to activate the air conditioning earlier, offer more shaded waiting areas and streamline entry procedures.
On Thursday, the consulate opened one hour late to mitigate the impact of the alleged delayed air conditioning and warned of possible appointment rescheduling. In a social media post announcing the revised opening time, it also cautioned that services might be suspended.
The post sparked heated debate on Chinese social media, drawing more than 20,000 reactions and thousands of angry comments.
Some users viewed the consulate’s public criticism as an attempt to stir local division, with one writing: “This is just trying to provoke conflict among Chinese people – the building management did nothing wrong.”
Others accused the consulate of evading payment obligations. “Does the US consulate even pay property management fees? Or is it using the building’s public areas as its waiting space to avoid air conditioning charges?” read one widely shared comment.
One local internet user noted that Wuhan’s premium office buildings often delayed the activation of centralised air conditioning systems until outside temperatures crossed 30 degrees to save costs.
Building brochures say air conditioning fees are included in tenants’ service charges, but lease clauses reportedly allow landlords to delay activation under “commercially reasonable conditions”, a loophole the US consulate says has resulted in “routine delays”.
Some social media questioned the consulate’s continued reliance on in-person systems. “If you truly care about applicants, why not switch to online visa processing instead of making people queue in the heat?” one user wrote.


Meanwhile, frustration deepened over the lack of notice for cancelled appointments. “They said just a one-hour delay, but then cancelled without warning,” a purported applicant complained.
Others demanded compensation and clearer alternatives. “Some students lost their third-time appointment slot – what about the losses for airfare and hotel bookings?” ran one comment. “Where’s the so-called respect for contract obligations?”
Another user said that all appointments had been cancelled for next week and called for clarification. “Please inform us before Wednesday if appointments after [July 25] will proceed. Students are racing against time before the semester starts – we need alternative plans.”
Under China’s heatstroke prevention regulations issued in 2012, employers must halt outdoor work if temperatures exceed 40 degrees. They must also pay additional allowances when indoor spaces cannot be cooled below 33 degrees.


This version corrects operational information about the US consulate in Wuhan since the pandemic.


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China

Diplomacy

Suspension comes during peak student visa season in China, with about 200,000 processed each year by the Wuhan mission alone


Suspension comes during peak student visa season in China, with about 200,000 processed each year by the Wuhan mission alone.


United States

US consulate in China halts visa interviews over ‘unsafe’ heat, alleges air con delay

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Suspension comes during peak student visa season in China, with about 200,000 processed each year by the Wuhan mission alone

Suspension comes during peak student visa season in China, with about 200,000 processed each year by the Wuhan mission alone