The U.S. embassy here said on Wednesday that visa applicants are not allowed to bring cellular phones and other electronic devices inside its compound.

Effective on Thursday, visa applicants carrying cell phones, laptop computer, MP3 music players and other personal digital assistants will be denied entry, the embassy said in a statement on its website.

The U.S. embassy explained that there will no longer be storage areas for cell phones and other electronic gadgets carried by applicants.

In the past, cell phones and similar devices of applicants were deposited with the embassy's guardhouse prior to entry.

Source: Xinhua