中国赴美签证之痛

The Chinese put up with a lot living in the world's most populous country: standing on over-crowded trains for 40 hours; sleeping outside hospitals to secure a doctor's appointment; waiting more than a year to earn a driver's license.

生活在世界人口最多的国家里，中国人需要忍受很多事：在人挤人的火车上站40个小时；睡在医院外只为能挂上号；等一年多时间才拿到驾照。

Add getting a U.S. entry visa to the list.

现在，得在这份清单里加上获得美国入境签证。

Applicants here have waited as long as 60 days to secure an appointment at one of five U.S. consular locations in Chinathat process visas. There, they're often greeted by long lines, followed by a face-to-face interview that can end badly in a matter of seconds.

申请者在五个能处理签证的美国领事馆前等待60天才能预约成功。在这儿，他们经常排着长队，一个挨一个去面试，几秒内就可能失败而归。

"I wish there was a way to improve the system," said an aircraft parts manufacturer from central China who said his business deal in the U.S. was delayed for two months as he and four co-workers waited on their visas. "It would benefit both countries," said the man, who gave only his last name, Ren. "Right now it's very aggravating."

只肯透露自己姓任（Ren）的商人说：“我希望能有个法子来改善签证系统，这对中美两国都有好处，现在这个过程很让人恼火。”这位中国中部地区的飞机部件制造商说他在美国的生意耽搁了两个月，因为他和四个合作伙伴都在等签证。

For the most part, U.S. officials agree. Recognizing the potential boost to American businesses, the newly installed U.S. ambassador to China, Gary Locke, has pledged to make reducing wait times a priority.

美国官方也意识到这对美国贸易提升有帮助，新上任的美国驻华大使骆家辉承诺要优先减少签证等待时间。

"We know that if we want to strengthen our commercial relationship with China and create jobs in America that we need to make it easier for Chinese businesspeople and tourists to travel to the United States," Locke said in a speech last month in Beijing.

骆家辉上月在北京一次演讲中说：“如果我们想加强同中国的贸易联系，并为美国人民增加新的工作岗位，我们就需要简化中国商人和旅游者的赴美程序。”