MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

US promises to cut waiting time for visas

The US on Tuesday launched a drive to encourage foreign visitors, announcing measures aimed at further reducing the delays that plagued many travellers after the September 11 2001 attacks.

In a presentation to business, university and travel groups on Tuesday, Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State, said the goal was "to achieve a faster, more secure and more respectful process of welcoming foreign visitors to the US".

The US has already moved significantly to cut waiting times for visa processing, which ballooned for students and business travellers when new security screening requirements were set up after September 11. The administration continues to face strong pressure from Congress to strengthen border security.

But the administration of President George W. Bush has become increasingly concerned that talented students and entrepreneurs are going to other countries because of the difficulty in coming to live and work temporarily in the US.

"They very clearly want to show everybody they care about this issue, they think it's important and they understand the adverse consequences for students and business ? and thereby for the country ? of not dealing with the problem," said Bill Reinsch, president of the National Foreign Trade Council, which has been lobbying to reduce delays for corporate travellers.

Among the initiatives announced on Tuesday were:

●Students can now receive visas up to 120 days in advance of their studies, up from 90 days now, and can come to the US 45 days before their programme begins, up from 30 days;

●The US will develop a secure, biometric card as an alternative to a passport for visitors from Mexico and Canada;

●A pilot project, beginning in the UK, will be set up to allow visa applicants to do their interviews by digital videoconference rather than travelling to a US consulate;

●The government will enhance co-operation with companies and universities by creating a permanent advisory board;

●The US will set up a "redress" process to address travellers' complaints about their treatment at borders or consulates abroad.

Ms Rice said the State Department had already made substantial progress in reducing waiting times, with 97 per cent of those approved for visas receiving them within two days. Waiting times for those requiring security reviews are also less than two weeks on average now, down from several months in 2002. Mr Reinsch said business travellers had seen big improvements.

US tourism officials welcomed the new initiatives after voicing alarm about a sharp drop in international visitors in recent years.

US market share of international tourism is at an all-time low, dropping 35 per cent between 1992 and 2004, which translates into $286bn in lost revenue.