In a recent Rush Passport™ blog entry, the topic was getting a Chinese visa to travel to the United States.
The main problem with the United States visa system is that it cannot keep up with the Chinese demand. China is currently the source of over 10% of all US visa applications. The only other country that has more passport holders applying for US visas is Mexico. With so many visa applicants, the visa system should be able to accomodate the large numbers to maximize travel to the United States.
However, the is a currently a 3 month wait just to get a visa applicant interview. Each visa applicant must have an in-person visa interview in order to be approved for travel to the United States.
It is in the best interest of the United States to process Chinese visa applicants more efficiently.
In order to expedite the handling of visas from China to the United States, there needs to be more American staff members at the embassy and UIS Consulates in China. In addition, more interview facilities need to be made available to Chinese visa applicants. The best case scenario is that a visa interview can be made in 48 hours or less once the visa application is submitted.
Another way to make the visa process smoother would be to grant visas to pre-qualified travelers who were granted visas in the past.
It is understood that national security should be the United States’ prime concern, but it is also very important from an economical standpoint to make the visa application process more efficient.
Other countries are competing for Chinese tourists and have taken steps to ease the visa process. Japan, for example, has made it so that a Chinese visa applicant who lives in a big city must only need to have a credit card to be approved for a visa.
New Zealand has also eased theire visa regulations with the hopes of attracting Chinese tourists.
Spain sees the opportunites to bring in more Chinese tourists and in addition to easing visa regulations, has also encouraged airlines to schedule more direct flights between the two countries.
Germany is also planning moves towards simplifying the visa process for Chinese applicants.
If you have more questions about getting a visa, a passport, an expedited passport, emergency passport, passport renewal, same day passport, US Passport book, US Passport Card, passport photos or other passport services, be sure to contact Rush Passport™. You can visit us at http://www.rushpassport.com or call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to speak with a Live Passport Agent. (877) 937-7277 (All 50 States) or (212) 643-9305 New York Passport Agency. Rush Passport™ Official US Passport Expeditors, serving Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, Manhattan, Westchester County, Nassau County & Suffolk County, Long Island, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.