The Bush administration has announced the launch of “paperless” US visa application system. It will enable foreigners to apply for visas electronically and use digital video technology to conduct remote interviews.

“If we can do this successfully,” Condoleezza Rice said, “this process might make life dramatically easier for foreign citizens who must now travel great distances to be interviewed in person.”

“Today, 97 percent of approved travellers receive their visas in a day or two and we have dramatically decreased the wait time for the rest,” Rice said.

“These trends are important, but they are only the beginnings of our efforts to create more secure borders and more open doors. And today, while advancing our legitimate security interests, we are taking new steps to welcome a greater number of foreign visitors to America than ever before,” she said.

Announcing the initiative at the State Department, both Miss Rice and Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff gave assurances that the schemes will not compromise U.S. security by making it easier for terrorists to enter the country.

“We’ll have the opportunity to transform our border management, decreasing wait times at ports of entry, and allowing us to focus our resources on that minority of people who pose a threat,” Mr. Chertoff said.

Sources: http://usinfo.state.gov , http://usinfo.state.gov/ , http://www.wpherald.com/ , http://news.monstersandcritics.com/northamerica/