Visa News

Mexico Reinstates Visa Requirement for Brazilians

Bloomburg reports that Mexico is resuming a visa requirement for Brazilians and Ecuadoreans to help stem the flow of illegal immigrants to the U.S. The policy change prompted Brazil and Ecuador to reinstate visas for Mexicans.

The return to requiring visas, announced in a statement today by the Mexican Foreign Ministry, reverses a five-year-old policy for Brazilians and breaks a 36-year-old agreement with Ecuador. The Brazilian and Ecuadorian foreign ministries said visas for Mexican tourists and business people would be reinstated Oct. 23, the same day the Mexican rule takes effect, under reciprocity policies.

The number of Brazilians entering the U.S. illegally through Mexico has climbed ninefold since the visa requirement ended, making the South American country the fastest growing source of unauthorized entries, according to the U.S. Homeland Security Department.

"This is probably U.S. pressure and also serves Mexico’s interest,” said Juan Lindau, chairman of the political science department at Colorado College and author of three books on Mexico. "There’s an understanding that if Mexico does a good job in stopping other people from entering illegally in the U.S., it’s more likely to get an agreement for Mexicans in the U.S."’

"A new agreement to ease immigration to the U.S. for Mexicans was abandoned after the Sept. 11 attacks", Lindau said

Mexico also decided to reinstate visa requirements for South Africa, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said in statement. The Mexican government said Brazilian, Ecuadorean and South African tourists may apply for five-year visas while businesspeople may apply for three-year ones. Both visas allow for multiple trips, the Mexican government said.

Source: Bloomburg

UAE Refuse Journalist Visa

Javid Hassan of the Arab News network, reports on his problems in obtaining a visa for the United Arab Emirates.

I had a rude shock. The clerk told me that my application had been rejected. Reason: No visa for a journalist. He refunded my money.

Doctors, it says, are eligible. As I stood waiting in the queue, however, I saw the consular section reject the application of a doctor from Azerbaijan on the grounds that he could get a visa at the airport but would not be given one for traveling by bus with his family. Even though the doctor said that it would be very expensive for him to travel by air with his entire family, his application was rejected.

Source: Arab News

New Seven-day Visa Issued for Iran

The Tehran Times reports that the issuing of seven-day visas for foreigners was started at Tabriz International Airport on Monday during a ceremony attended by Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi.

Speaking at the ceremony, Asefi said the plan to issue visas for foreigners at a number of major cities is aimed at facilitating the process of traveling to Iran of foreign nationals as well as promotion of tourism industry in the country.

In addition to the Tabriz airport, seven-day visas are being currently issued at the major cities of Tehran, Shiraz and Mashhad.

The plan will be implemented in several other airports, including that of the ancient city of Isfahan, central Iran, in the near future.

Ukraine repeals visa requirements for EU | Canadian citizens

According to the decree of Victor Yushchenko, the Ukrainian President, visa-free mode has been established in this country for the citizens of EU and Switzerland coming to the Ukraine for 4 months from May, 1st till September, 1st.

The main reason for this decree was the annual song contest “Eurovision”, which was held in Kiev in May, 2005. Thousands of guests were expected to enter the country during this period.

The president’s decree grounds this decision by the “realization of strategic policy of the Ukraine for integration into the European community, creation of conditions for foreign investors, active development of contacts between people,” as ITAR-TASS reported.

Later on it was decided to prolong the visa-free mode. The assistant of the State Secretary of Ukraine Markiyan Lubkivsky declared that from the 1st of September it will be prolonged without time limit. According to “LIGABusinessInform”, Mr. Lubkivsky emphasised that the repealing of visas for EU and Swiss citizens had great effect for the country. Visits to the Ukraine from these countries increased 2-3 times, and, as a result, the value of funds, imported into the Ukraine has grown respectively.

Hence, the visa-free mode will not be cancelled after September, 1st.

Citizens of Japan and Canada have also been allowed to travel to Ukraine without visas. Visa requirements for U.S. nationals have been considerably simplified. Starting July 1, 2005 visas are not required for the US citizens who reenter Ukraine within six months after their previous trip to Ukraine or transit through its territory for a period of up to 90 days with a valid American travel passport.

At the same time, the Ukraine negotiates on the liberalisation of visa requirements to these countries for Ukrainian citizens.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Authorized to Apologize

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrives in Rome today for the start of a four-day visit to Europe. During talks with Read more

Georgia cancels visas for EU, US, Japan, and Canada

TBILISI. June 2 (Interfax) – The Georgian parliament adopted a law on Thursday to allow visa-free trips by EU, U.S., Japanese and Canadian citizens Read more

Russia negotiating readmission agreements with neighbours

MOSCOW. June 8 (Interfax) – Russia has begun negotiations with its neighbours to conclude readmission agreements, which would enable Moscow to sign a relevant agreement with the European Union in the future, Read more

Kaliningrad legislature advocates visa-free travel for EU citizens

MOSCOW, June 8 (RIA Novosti) — The Kaliningrad regional legislature wants to introduce visa-free travel for EU citizens, the Izvestia daily said Wednesday. This measure would also help solve the Kaliningrad transit problem. Read more

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