Long lines and bad attitude for Israelis applying for U.S. visas in Tel Aviv
Photo: Michael Kramer
‘Israelis don’t get visas to U.S.’
Israeli Foreign Minister complained to visiting American official that young Israelis' visa applications are almost automatically rejected; official promised to better treatment.
TEL AVIV - In his meeting with Assistant U.S. Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Maura Harty Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom complained about the growth in the number of Israelis who are refused a visa to the U.S.
“The problem is mainly with newly-released soldiers, who wish to go travel in the U.S after the military but are almost automatically refused one since they don’t work or study,” Shalom said.
“There is no reason such young folks will not get a visa,” he added.
Shalom also mentioned the long lines of visa appliers standing outside the American embassy in Tel Aviv and the attitude the visa officers have towards local appliers.
He said it is about time the U.S adds Israel to the list of visa-free countries. In the past, there were 29 such countries, but recently the number went down to 27.
“Israel-American relations are very close and there is no reason Israel should not become part of that program,” Shalom said.
Better treatment
Harty told Shalom Israel does not meet the program’s acceptance criteria; one of which is that the number of people who applied but were refused an American visa will be less than 3% of the total number of appliers.
Currently, about 6% of all Israeli appliers are rejected; a few years ago the rate was 4%.
However, the assistant secretary promised she would better the treatment given to applying Israelis, and added that visa-application fees are to be lowered.
