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Articles tagged “state department”

News Blog

U.S. Visitor Visa Wait Times in India Drop by 50 Percent

The amount of time a first-time visitor visa applicant in India has to wait for an interview has fallen from an average of 669 days in mid-March to 337 days in early April, a 50 percent drop, according to the U.S. Travel Association.  The industry lobby group attributed the wait time reduction to the State…

Dawit Habtemariam | 1 year ago

Tourism

U.S. Visitor Visa Wait Times Remain Stuck at Over 400 Days on Average

We're four months into 2023 and first-time visitors from the U.S.'s top inbound countries still have to wait nearly a year for just an interview. This is slowing down the U.S.'s recovery to its pre-pandemic level.

Dawit Habtemariam | 1 year ago

U.S. Visitor Visa Wait Times Remain Stuck at Over 400 Days on Average

Tourism

7 Questions for the U.S. State Department Official Out to Fix the Visa Delays Mess

Travel executives have taken the U.S. government to task for not remedying more quickly the delay in processing travel visas that they say is costing the U.S. travel industry in big ways. We went to the top government official working on this. She says efforts are now producing real results, and asks for patience.

Dawit Habtemariam | 1 year ago

7 Questions for the U.S. State Department Official Out to Fix the Visa Delays Mess

News Blog

U.S. Visa Delays Sees Some Reduction

Global average wait times for U.S. visitor visas dropped below 150 days in January for the first time since 2021, according to the U.S. Travel Association. They still, however, remain higher than 400 days for India, Brazil, Mexico and top inbound visa-requiring markets (excluding China). In 2022, aspiring tourists from the top ten inbound countries…

Dawit Habtemariam | 1 year ago

Tourism

Visa Wait Times Put Drag on U.S. International Travel Recovery

One more impact of the global labor shortage is the protracted wait time for visas that will continue to hurt the U.S.'s international tourism recovery if quick solutions aren't found.

Dawit Habtemariam | 2 years ago

Visa Wait Times Put Drag on U.S. International Travel Recovery

Tourism

U.S. Considers Rejoining UN’s World Tourism Organization in a Rare Nod to Global Cooperation

The policies of the Trump administration haven't exactly been friendly to inbound U.S. tourism — or to international cooperation. But for reasons not entirely clear, the administration seems keen to get back into the UN's World Tourism Organization.

Rosie Spinks, Skifit | 5 years ago

U.S. Considers Rejoining UN’s World Tourism Organization in a Rare Nod to Global Cooperation

Tourism

Look Who’s Issuing Travel Advisories Now for the U.S. Since Dayton and El Paso

In the wake of the mass shootings that claimed 31 lives in early August, several authorities have issued travel alerts for travelers headed to the U.S. Whether it's a statement or a matter of safety — or both — it's significant.

Rosie Spinks, Skift | 5 years ago

Look Who’s Issuing Travel Advisories Now for the U.S. Since Dayton and El Paso

Tourism

Why Is the U.S. Never Deemed ‘Unsafe’ as a Travel Destination?

In the wake of a tragedy, destinations are hugely beholden to the public perception of how safe it is to travel there, regardless of the reality on the ground. But the United States — which has experienced more mass shootings than there are days in 2019 — is unfairly exempt from that struggle.

Rosie Spinks, Skift | 5 years ago

Why Is the U.S. Never Deemed ‘Unsafe’ as a Travel Destination?

Tourism

U.S. State Department Overhauls Travel Warning System

It's a complicated world and the State Department is trying to make it a little less complicated for U.S. travelers wondering if it's safe to travel somewhere. There will likely be a learning curve to understand the new system and how other countries respond to them.

Dan Peltier, Skift | 6 years ago

U.S. State Department Overhauls Travel Warning System

Tourism

Renewing Your Passport This Year Will Take Longer Than Expected

The surge in passport renewals won't affect U.S. applicants too severely.

Andrew Sheivachman, Skift | 8 years ago

Renewing Your Passport This Year Will Take Longer Than Expected