visa wait times
U.S. Travel Applauds Much-Needed Funding to Lower Visitor Visa Wait Times
U.S. Travel Association | March 28, 2024
WASHINGTON (March 27, 2024)—U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes issued the following statement on the passage of government spending package H.R.2882, which included $50 million in funding for the U.S. Department of State to reduce visitor visa interview wait times: “U.S. Travel applauds Congress for directing funding to address excessive visitor visa interview wait times, which currently average 400 days in top source markets. The State Department must now deploy these resources as quickly as possible to lower wait times and facilitate growth in inbound visitation. “F...
Hundreds of Travel Advocates From 50 States Call for Action on Capitol Hill
U.S. Travel Association | March 21, 2024
NEW Data Underscores Travel Industry’s Contributions to Economy, Workforce Across U.S. WASHINGTON - Delegates from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia took to Capitol Hill on Wednesday for the U.S. Travel Association’s annual legislative fly-in, Destination Capitol Hill. Delegates held more than 300 meetings with top policymakers to discuss industry priorities to increase global competitiveness, drive economic growth and create and support jobs nationwide. "This year’s Destination Capitol Hill is all about setting the groundwork for a more globally competitive future for travel,” said U.S. Travel Association ...
Visa Progress in India Results in 50% Reduction in Applicant Wait Times
U.S. Travel Association | April 18, 2023
WASHINGTON (April 18, 2023)—Wait times for U.S. visitor visas among applicants in India, a top source of visitors to the United States, declined rapidly in recent weeks—dropping from 669 days in mid-March to 337 days in early April. This signals much-needed progress that follows steps taken by the U.S. Department of State to reduce extreme visitor visa delays. “The results we’re seeing in India are proof that—with the right tools—State can make significant progress on this issue,” said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman. “However, there is clearly more work ahead to lower wait times worldwide.” ...
Visa Wait Times Remain Embarrassingly High for Millions of Potential U.S. Visitors
U.S. Travel Association | March 23, 2023
New analysis from U.S. Travel Association shows a concerning lack of progress to dramatically reduce interview wait times for first-time visitor visa applicants—which still exceed a year in the top 10 visa-requiring markets to the U.S. “Millions of potential visitors to the U.S.—who want to come here to purchase American products, see their families and otherwise support the American economy—have no choice but to plan trips years in advance or go elsewhere, given these outrageous wait times,” said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman. “It’s completely unacceptable and sends a message to the world that inter...
U.S. Travel Applauds Bipartisan Senate Call to Lower Visa Wait Times
U.S. Travel Association | February 22, 2023
U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes issued the following statement on a bipartisan group of senators calling on the Biden administration to take further action to lower interview wait times for first-time visitor visa applicants: “The U.S. travel industry deeply appreciates the work of Senators Klobuchar, Cornyn, Booker, Moran, Rosen and Sullivan to drive progress at the State Department to reduce excessive visitor visa wait times. “While State has made strides in recent weeks, more work is needed to shorten wait times and welcome international visitors—which will help ...
New: Weak Travel Trade Balance Points to Urgent Need for Federal Action
U.S. Travel Association | February 16, 2023
New data released by the U.S. Department of Commerce reveals the country’s travel trade surplus slipped to just $4 billion in 2022—down from an all-time high of $85.9 billion less than a decade ago, underscoring the urgent need to rebuild inbound travel and regain its associated economic benefits. “Travel has historically generated an annual trade surplus that meaningfully reduced the U.S. trade deficit,” said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman. “The latest trade data is a wake-up call for immediate federal action to boost this essential industry and increase travel exports to benefit the entire U.S. economy...
U.S. Mayors Call on Biden Administration to Reduce Excessive Visitor Visa Wait Times
U.S. Travel Association | February 14, 2023
A bipartisan group of 44 mayors and officials representing American cities and counties came together to send Secretary of State Antony Blinken a letter urging immediate action to reduce visitor visa interview wait times, which persistently remain above 400 days for would-be travelers from key international inbound markets. The joint letter states: “As a lingering result of the pandemic’s peak, a severe backlog in the processing of U.S. visitor visas is now delaying—in some instances well over a year—the visitation of foreign travelers from key markets who provide much-needed economic and diplomatic benefits to the nation.” ...
State Department Makes Important Progress in Reducing Visa Wait Times, Much More Work Needed
U.S. Travel Association | January 25, 2023
Steps taken in recent weeks to reduce visitor visa wait times for travelers to the United States—by up to half in some key markets such as India—mark substantive progress by the U.S. Department of State following months of consistent advocacy from the travel industry. “By enacting smart and effective policies, the State Department is taking an active role in investing in the travel economy’s recovery,” said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman. “State must remain laser focused on solving this critical issue and set clear goals and limits for acceptable wait times.” Interview wait times for the top 10 inb...
