The Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) is a mandatory online enrollment system for travelers holding Chinese passports with 10-year B1/B2, B1, or B2 U.S. visas. While the process is designed to be straightforward, many applicants encounter unexpected rejections due to avoidable errors. Understanding the common pitfalls can significantly improve your chances of approval and prevent last-minute travel disruptions.

Incomplete or Inaccurate Information remains the leading cause of EVUS rejections. The system requires precise details matching both your passport and visa exactly. Even minor discrepancies, such as a misspelled name or an incorrect passport number, can trigger an automatic denial. Many applicants rush through the form, overlooking fields like employment history or previous U.S. travel dates. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) systems cross-reference all entered data with multiple government databases, making consistency across all documents crucial.

Another frequent issue arises with passport validity. Travelers often don't realize their passport must remain valid for at least six months beyond their intended stay in the United States. Some make the mistake of attempting EVUS enrollment when their passport has less than this required validity period. Others encounter problems because they've renewed their passport since obtaining their U.S. visa but failed to update the new passport information in the EVUS system before applying.

Visa category confusion creates unnecessary rejections. The EVUS requirement specifically applies only to 10-year B1/B2, B1, or B2 visas issued to Chinese passport holders. Applicants with other visa types (such as F, J, or H visas) sometimes mistakenly attempt enrollment, resulting in automatic denials. Similarly, those holding visas from other countries or special administrative regions may incorrectly assume they need EVUS approval when they don't qualify for the program at all.

Technical errors during the application process account for a surprising number of rejections. The EVUS website occasionally experiences glitches, especially during peak travel seasons. Applicants might complete the entire form only to encounter system errors upon submission. In other cases, payment processing failures occur despite valid credit cards being used. These technical issues often leave applicants uncertain whether their submission was actually received by the system.

Previous immigration violations, even unintentional ones, frequently lead to EVUS denials. The system automatically flags travelers who have overstayed their visa waiver period on previous U.S. visits or those who violated their visa terms. Many applicants don't realize that working illegally (even briefly) or attending school while on a tourist visa creates permanent records that surface during EVUS verification. These violations sometimes occurred years earlier but continue to affect current applications.

Employment information discrepancies prove problematic for many business travelers. The EVUS form asks detailed questions about current and past employment. Applicants who provide vague responses like "self-employed" without proper documentation or those who list different employers than what appears on their visa application often face rejections. Frequent job changers sometimes struggle to recall exact employment dates that match their previous U.S. visa applications.

Security database mismatches create invisible barriers for some applicants. The EVUS system interfaces with numerous security databases that aren't visible to applicants. Names that appear similar to those on watchlists sometimes trigger false positives, especially when combined with other common characteristics like birth dates or places of birth. These cases often require manual review, causing significant delays and sometimes resulting in denials that are difficult to overturn.

Payment issues continue to plague applicants despite the system's apparent simplicity. The EVUS enrollment fee must be paid using a credit card that passes international verification checks. Many Chinese credit cards issued by smaller regional banks fail these checks unexpectedly. Some applicants report their payment being declined multiple times before finally succeeding, while others discover their successful payment didn't actually process their application due to system errors.

Emergency applications frequently meet rejection due to unrealistic expectations about processing times. While most EVUS approvals occur within minutes, the system clearly states that some applications may require up to 72 hours for processing. Applicants who wait until the last minute before their flight sometimes panic when immediate approval doesn't materialize. In their haste, they may submit duplicate applications or make errors in subsequent attempts, further complicating their situation.

The complexity increases for applicants who have changed their names or other critical personal details since obtaining their U.S. visa. Marriage, divorce, or legal name changes create mismatches between current identification documents and the original visa information. These applicants often need to first update their visa details through a separate process before attempting EVUS enrollment, a requirement many discover only after facing rejection.

Understanding these common rejection reasons allows applicants to approach the EVUS process with greater confidence and preparation. Careful attention to detail, allowing sufficient processing time, and ensuring all travel documents align perfectly significantly improves approval chances. Those who do face rejection should carefully review the specific reason provided and address that exact issue before reapplying, rather than submitting multiple applications hoping one will succeed.