Beijing immigration authorities had rejected several U.S. citizens from entering China since China began to tighten visa measures for Americans Thursday, the Beijing Youth Daily reported Tuesday.

The Americans were refused because they did not hold valid visas, said the paper, quoting sources with the city’s immigration authorities. The number of rejected U.S. citizens and other details were not revealed.

The news came after the Xiamen immigration authorities rejected at least two U.S. citizens from entering China. Police found their visas had expired and sent them back, the Shenzhen Daily reported Monday.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry required all Americans to obtain visas before coming to China after the United States refused a Chinese request to review the procedure of fingerprinting Chinese applicants for U.S. visas.

Previously Americans could apply for visas at Chinese ports of entry.

(Shenzhen Daily April 8, 2004)