From AP via the International Herald Tribune (link)
More mainland Chinese received U.S. visas last year than in any other year over the past century as the economic power of China expanded, an official with the U.S. Embassy here said Friday.
The number of U.S. visas granted to Chinese people from the mainland fell sharply with tighter security screening imposed after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, but rebounded in the following years.
Last year, the United States issued 304,374 visas to mainland Chinese tourists, students and others – a 29 percent increase over 2004 – according to Michael Regan, the U.S. consul general in charge of visas for the embassy.