The U.S. Mission in China has a priority focus on the safety and security of American citizens resident in China during the pandemic. While some of our employees have recently departed Shanghai, we have reconfigured operations to ensure that we are able to assist our citizens. We have assembled a team based in Beijing to supplement the surge in demand for urgent citizen services and now have 80 officers working together to support the more than 40,000 American citizens in the Shanghai consular district alone.
Ambassador Nicholas Burns and other Department and Mission officials are working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the daily problems Americans are facing. We are advising American citizens who are experiencing challenges departing Shanghai and facing complications obtaining food and medical care under lockdown conditions. U.S. Mission staff are available 24 hours per day across China to assist our citizens.
If you are an American citizen in need of assistance in Shanghai, please email ShanghaiACS@state.gov or call +86 10 8531-4000 (press “0” for operator). For U.S. citizens in Shanghai who wish to depart China, commercial flights remain available but are limited. We are engaged on the issue of airport access for U.S. citizen travelers with confirmed air tickets.
The Mission has sent multiple messages, including public statements on April 6, April 9, and April 12 to U.S. citizens as the situation has developed. If you are a U.S. citizen, we note and urge you to consider the following:
- You can register in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program at https://step.state.gov/.
- For questions about accessing your confirmed flight due to local health control measures – email ShanghaiACS@state.gov or call +86 10 8531-4000 (press “0” for operator).
- For questions about access to food, water, medications, or supplies in Shanghai or for other urgent assistance – email ShanghaiACS@state.gov or call +86 10 8531-4000 (press “0” for operator).
- Contact your local neighborhood committee or employer for assistance with obtaining food delivery or bulk ordering. Food deliveries may be delayed, and the supply of certain items limited.
- Review your personal preparedness to ensure you have a sufficient supply of money, medication, food, and other necessities for your family in the event of sudden restrictions or quarantine.
- Ensure all necessary documents are accessible and up to date, including travel and identity documents.
- Contact your family and friends immediately and share regular updates. They will be concerned about your well-being, so reach out to them however possible – via phone, text, social media, etc. – to let them know you are safe. Text and data services may work when voice services do not.
- Follow Mission China’s main social media channels: Twitter (@USAmbChina and @USA_China_Talk), Weibo (@美国驻华大使馆), and WeChat (@美国驻华大使馆).
- For questions regarding other parts of China – contact the Embassy or Consulate General in your district at the contact information provided below.
In case of emergency, please call +(86)(10) 8531-4000. Further information can also be found at https://china.usembassy-china.org.cn/contact/ and emailing:
- Embassy Beijing: BeijingACS@state.gov
- Consulate General Guangzhou: GuangzhouACS@state.gov
- Consulate General Shanghai: ShanghaiACS@state.gov
- Consulate General Shenyang: ShenyangACS@state.gov
- Consulate General Wuhan: WuhanACS@state.gov