Job Discussion Forums

[Joe C.]

Since China usually responds tit-for-tat to what it considers adverse changes in U.S. visa policy, I wonder what effect the following will have. I wouldn�t be surprised if Chinese policy changes to require Americans to return to America every year to renew their �Z� visas.


WASHINGTON (AP) -- Foreigners in the United States with worker visas must reapply for them overseas when they expire, the U.S. State Department has said.

Department spokesman Richard Boucher said that in the past, foreigners with worker visas were able to reapply for visas in the United States.

The reason for the switch, he said, is that U.S. embassies abroad are better equipped than government offices in the United States to interview and fingerprint the growing number of visa applicants.

"These people can stay as long as they want. They can leave when they want," Boucher said Wednesday.

"But when they come back, instead of getting a visa here in advance, they will have to get one overseas at one of our embassies and consulates and then come back."

Diplomatic or official visas would continue to be processed in Washington and New York, the department said.

The primary beneficiaries of the service in the United States have been foreign workers in computer and technology industries.

Boucher said almost 50 percent of the applicants have been from India.

Other nationalities in the top five are Japanese, Chinese, British and South Koreans.

More than 50,000 people from more than 60 countries were processed last year, Boucher added.


For further information, check out:

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/06/23/us.workers.visas.ap/index.html

[Healer]

Frankly... I couldn't care less!

[Ruth]

Well, I care, as this could dramatically impact my life. Of course, a paid trip home every summer wouldn't bother me too much. I wonder for how long the US issues work visas. If it is several years then this isn't too bad, although it sounds like the US gov't trying to get out of work. My work visa to China is currently only for one year, so renewing every year is a necessity.