How do I apply to an American university?
You should go to the library to find some information about American universities, and write to the Admission Office. Then the Admission Office will send you application forms and other related materials. From experience, many applicants write to several universities instead of just one.
I was told that it took a lot of time and effort to apply.
That is true. I'll list for you the requirements of almost all the universities. First of all, you need official transcripts of your undergraduate work, three letters of recommendation from your professors who know your competence, and the official TOEFL(Test of English as a Foreign Language) score (It's usually 550). Then you need a financial guarantee, and an application fee of 25 dollars.
What's to come next?
If they agree to enroll you, they will send you a TAP-66 Form. With TAP-66, you can apply for a passport from our government, and then apply for a visa from the US. Embassy in Beijing.
How long will it take to go over all the procedures?
From 3 to 6 months if everything goes well.
Thank you. I appreciate your help.
You are welcome. Please feel free to ask if you have any more questions.