Senator says America needs to make it easier for tourists to get United States visas

In 2010, the Travel Promotion Act was enacted to attract more tourists and visitors to the United States. But for some, the process of getting a United States visa takes far too long.

“It doesn’t do much good to promote the U.S. to foreign travelers when those foreign travelers can’t get a visa for months to visit the United States of America,” said Senator Klobuchar. “In a recent survey, 73 per cent of respondents said they would not visit the U.S. if they knew it would take them two to three months to get a visa. Well, sadly, in several countries that is how long it is taking.”

Visitors to United States help economy

“This is about jobs. Each foreign visitor to our country spends an average of $4,000,” Klobuchar said. “We are talking about some serious money. In 2009 alone, spending by overseas visitors supported some 900,000 American jobs and paid $23 billion in wages to American workers.”

Visitor visa issuance is increasing in the United States, and since 2005 has doubled for China, increased by half for Russia and India, increased by more than half for North Africa and the Middle East and increased by 24 per cent for Mexico.

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