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31.01.2012
Presidential Executive Order on Visa and Foreign Visitor Processing Goals
On 19 January 2012, President Obama announced that the US Departments of State and Homeland Security will be working together to improve and speed up the visa process for certain travelers to the United States. The Executive Order sets out the following goals to be achieved in the next 60 days:
- Increase nonimmigrant visa processing capacity in China and Brazil by 40 percent over the coming year;
- Ensure that 80% of nonimmigrant visa applicants are interviewed within 3 weeks of receipt of application;
- Increase efforts to expand the Visa Waiver Program and travel by nationals of Visa Waiver Program participants, and;
- Expand reciprocal recognition programs for expedited travel, such as the Global Entry program.
The order also set forth a task force to develop a National Travel and Tourism Strategy with the goal of increasing the United States market share of worldwide travel, including specifically a greater share of long-haul travel from Brazil, China, and India.
For more information, please contact Ortega-Medina & Associates.
