Home prices in niche residential retreat areas have taken a beating since the global financial crisis, according to a study.London-based international property consultants Savills said this month that values for such homes are up to 30 per cent below peak levels.
But they are expected to return to pre-crisis levels by 2019, led by "high-quality, low-supply prime hot spots" such as those in the Spanish Balearics and the Caribbean.
Following a turnaround inChina Work Visa application form prices last year after the global economic downturn, Savills estimates that properties in "city getaway locations" such as the Mediterranean may see continued price growth of up to 10 per cent this year.
With property markets in prime cities becoming more fully valued, second homes in popular locations are becoming increasingly attractive as an alternative investment for the wealthy.
"There are strong signs that the recovery which started in major world cities in 2009 is now rolling out to the hinterland and boltholes inhabited during weekends and vacations by equity-rich homeowners," said Savills World Research director Yolande Barnes.
France is leading the price table. A typical four-bedroom villa or apartment in the French Riviera is going for about ￡2 million S$4.2 million.
Before the crisis, prime RivieraChina Student Visa application locations such as the Provencal town of Saint-Tropez could fetch prices up to four times that, according to a May 2007 New York Times article.
Investors from Russia, Britain and the Middle East are chasing a limited number of French holiday properties. An example is the popular region of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat in the Riviera - the exclusive tourist peninsula has only 500 homes.
Spain and Portugal have seen home prices in holiday locations fall by up to a third from peaks in 2007.
2014年4月15日星期二
Tourist visa reforms for Chinese an investment
It was “hypocritical” to treat them differently to American tourists, he said.Chinese tourists - many of whom make a beeline for Mr Packer’s Crown resorts and casinos - could create tens of thousands of new jobs in Australian tourism.
“Why should the visa -requirements for a wealthy Chinese visitor wanting to come to Australia be any harder than the visa requirements for a wealthy American?” he asked in an exclusive interview with the Herald Sun in Macau.
“We’re not in a Cold War anymore. The dollar’s at 91 cents because of China, not America, and we all benefit, so let’s not be hypocrites.“The visa processing system for Chinese tourists has improved recently, but there is more work to do in this area and each day we waste costs Australia a great amount of tourism dollars,’’ he said.
“Visa applications are done in English, not Mandarin, that’s stupid. And they are not done online, that’s stupid.“I think over 70 countries can apply for an Australian tourist visa online but China isn’t one of them.”
Mr Packer, whose estimated $7.3 billion fortune has seen him ranked the 211th richest person in the world by Forbes magazine, has built a sizeable portion of his wealth through attracting wealthy Chinese gamblers and tourists.
About $1 billion of Crown’s $2.8 billion revenue in Australia last financial year came from overseas visitors — the vast majority from China.Mr Packer will next week join Prime Minister Tony -Abbott on a trade mission to Japan and China.He said the rise of the Chinese middle class was hugely important to the Australian economy.
The 46-year-old inherited a gaming and media business from his father Kerry, who died in 2005, and has spent 10 years consolidating it into a gaming behemoth.
“Why should the visa -requirements for a wealthy Chinese visitor wanting to come to Australia be any harder than the visa requirements for a wealthy American?” he asked in an exclusive interview with the Herald Sun in Macau.
“We’re not in a Cold War anymore. The dollar’s at 91 cents because of China, not America, and we all benefit, so let’s not be hypocrites.“The visa processing system for Chinese tourists has improved recently, but there is more work to do in this area and each day we waste costs Australia a great amount of tourism dollars,’’ he said.
“Visa applications are done in English, not Mandarin, that’s stupid. And they are not done online, that’s stupid.“I think over 70 countries can apply for an Australian tourist visa online but China isn’t one of them.”
Mr Packer, whose estimated $7.3 billion fortune has seen him ranked the 211th richest person in the world by Forbes magazine, has built a sizeable portion of his wealth through attracting wealthy Chinese gamblers and tourists.
About $1 billion of Crown’s $2.8 billion revenue in Australia last financial year came from overseas visitors — the vast majority from China.Mr Packer will next week join Prime Minister Tony -Abbott on a trade mission to Japan and China.He said the rise of the Chinese middle class was hugely important to the Australian economy.
The 46-year-old inherited a gaming and media business from his father Kerry, who died in 2005, and has spent 10 years consolidating it into a gaming behemoth.
2014年4月9日星期三
Police looking for father of 'Mai'
Police are hunting for the father of an abandoned toddler while the child's mother is being held at Villawood Immigration Detention Centre.
The mother of the girl, who is aged about 18 months, only found out that her child had been dumped on the doorstep of a western Sydney home after seeing media reports, a Family and Community Services spokesman said.
"The woman was alerted to the child's whereabouts after seeing media reports," the spokesman said.The doorstep where 'Mai' was found'.China Crew Visa application formThe doorstep where 'Mai' was found."Police are still hunting for the father; he has gone to ground."Fairfax Media understands the girl's parents had been involved in a dispute and the child was in the care of her fatherChina Business Visa application at the time she was dumped outside an Auburn house just before 10pm on Monday.
Auburn police superintendent, Phil Rogerson, said police interviewed the 24-year-old mother after finding her distraught."We found her on the street down the road from the police station. She was very upset so we brought her in."The woman, believed to be from China, was taken into the custody of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection after she was interviewed by police with the help of an interpreter.
It is understood she was detained because of a visa issue.A spokeswoman for Immigration Minister Scott Morrison said the woman was an "unlawful non-citizen".The little girl, dubbed "Mai" by carers, would soon be returned to her mother, she said.
"[The baby] will soon return to the care of her mother in the Sydney Immigration Residential Housing while efforts are made to resolve their immigration status," the spokeswoman said.
The mother of the girl, who is aged about 18 months, only found out that her child had been dumped on the doorstep of a western Sydney home after seeing media reports, a Family and Community Services spokesman said.
"The woman was alerted to the child's whereabouts after seeing media reports," the spokesman said.The doorstep where 'Mai' was found'.China Crew Visa application formThe doorstep where 'Mai' was found."Police are still hunting for the father; he has gone to ground."Fairfax Media understands the girl's parents had been involved in a dispute and the child was in the care of her fatherChina Business Visa application at the time she was dumped outside an Auburn house just before 10pm on Monday.
Auburn police superintendent, Phil Rogerson, said police interviewed the 24-year-old mother after finding her distraught."We found her on the street down the road from the police station. She was very upset so we brought her in."The woman, believed to be from China, was taken into the custody of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection after she was interviewed by police with the help of an interpreter.
It is understood she was detained because of a visa issue.A spokeswoman for Immigration Minister Scott Morrison said the woman was an "unlawful non-citizen".The little girl, dubbed "Mai" by carers, would soon be returned to her mother, she said.
"[The baby] will soon return to the care of her mother in the Sydney Immigration Residential Housing while efforts are made to resolve their immigration status," the spokeswoman said.
Xi’an to join China’s visa waiver scheme
The capital of Shaanxi province, which is home to the world famous Terracotta Warriors, will allow passengers transiting through Xi’an Xianyang International Airport to stay in the city for three days without obtaining a visa prior to arrival, as long as they have an onward ticket for a flight to a third destination, departing within 72 hours of their arrival.
The scheme is available to citizens of 45 countries, including the all EU member states, the US, Canada, Mexico, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Brunei, Russia, Ukraine, Qatar and the UAE.
It will be useful to also note that while Modi was facing an American and European winter over the past decade, the governments of Asian nations were sowing seeds of cooperation with him. In the past decade, Modi has visited China and Japan, their officials have been visiting Gujarat, and these governments have encouraged state-supported investments in Gujarat. Of course there have been American investments also in Gujarat – but there has been no American political support for these private investments.
In fact another question lurking in the background is whether Modi’s foreign economic policy will have a soft-leaning towards Asia, as compared to the U.S.? The short space in this article does not allow a discussion on that, and is the subject of another article.
Xi’an becomes the ninth Chinese city to offer the service, following Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Kunming, Chongqing, Dalian and Shenyang.
Shaanxi province welcomed 285 million tourists in 2013, 797,000 of whom entered through Xianyang Airport. The new policy is expected to come into force in the next two months.
The scheme is available to citizens of 45 countries, including the all EU member states, the US, Canada, Mexico, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Brunei, Russia, Ukraine, Qatar and the UAE.
It will be useful to also note that while Modi was facing an American and European winter over the past decade, the governments of Asian nations were sowing seeds of cooperation with him. In the past decade, Modi has visited China and Japan, their officials have been visiting Gujarat, and these governments have encouraged state-supported investments in Gujarat. Of course there have been American investments also in Gujarat – but there has been no American political support for these private investments.
In fact another question lurking in the background is whether Modi’s foreign economic policy will have a soft-leaning towards Asia, as compared to the U.S.? The short space in this article does not allow a discussion on that, and is the subject of another article.
Xi’an becomes the ninth Chinese city to offer the service, following Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Kunming, Chongqing, Dalian and Shenyang.
Shaanxi province welcomed 285 million tourists in 2013, 797,000 of whom entered through Xianyang Airport. The new policy is expected to come into force in the next two months.
2014年4月1日星期二
Visa waiver boosts Beijing visits
Beijing saw nearly double the number of travelers that benefited from the capital's 72-hour visa waiver policy in January compared with the same period last year, authorities said on Tuesday.
The city received 1,746 transit passengers in January at Beijing Capital International Airport China Crew Visa application formwho benefitted from the waiver policy, which allows a visitor with an airline ticket to stay 72 hours without a visa. The jump represented a year-on-year increase of 184.8 percent, according to the Beijing Tourism Development Commission.
The capital approved the 72-hour visa waiver for people from 45 countries on Jan 1, 2013, to boost the city's inbound tourism. The commission said the policy has attracted more international tourists to the Chinese capital this year.
Commission officials also announced they are considering a tax refund program to attract more overseas tourists. The program would allow foreign visitors to claim tax refunds at shopping malls in the city.
City officials said they are working to make the visa application process easier for foreigners and create more customized tour packages, China Business Visa applicationincluding exclusive discounts at the international airport and for buses that will take tourists from the airport to hotels and attractions.
It is also seeking alliances with other Chinese cities that have already implemented visa waiver policies, including Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Chongqing, to market tourism in China to the world.
Dai Bin, professor of tourism at Beijing International Studies University, said the policy will help increase spending by overseas visitors.
According to the Beijing Port Office, the international airport received more than 7.06 million visits in January, a year-on-year increase of 9.2 percent.
The city received 1,746 transit passengers in January at Beijing Capital International Airport China Crew Visa application formwho benefitted from the waiver policy, which allows a visitor with an airline ticket to stay 72 hours without a visa. The jump represented a year-on-year increase of 184.8 percent, according to the Beijing Tourism Development Commission.
The capital approved the 72-hour visa waiver for people from 45 countries on Jan 1, 2013, to boost the city's inbound tourism. The commission said the policy has attracted more international tourists to the Chinese capital this year.
Commission officials also announced they are considering a tax refund program to attract more overseas tourists. The program would allow foreign visitors to claim tax refunds at shopping malls in the city.
City officials said they are working to make the visa application process easier for foreigners and create more customized tour packages, China Business Visa applicationincluding exclusive discounts at the international airport and for buses that will take tourists from the airport to hotels and attractions.
It is also seeking alliances with other Chinese cities that have already implemented visa waiver policies, including Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Chongqing, to market tourism in China to the world.
Dai Bin, professor of tourism at Beijing International Studies University, said the policy will help increase spending by overseas visitors.
According to the Beijing Port Office, the international airport received more than 7.06 million visits in January, a year-on-year increase of 9.2 percent.
Number of Chinese tourists to surge 60% this year
Number of Chinese tourists to surge 60% this year
The Tourism Ministry forecasts that the number of Chinese visitors will surge 60% this year to 40,000 as Israel tries to take a bigger bite into the more than $100 billion that Chinese tourists spend annually.
More than three years ago, then-Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov prioritized tourism from China. Since then, tourist arrivals from the Middle Kingdom have increased between 20% and 30% annually, but the numbers are minuscule compared to the 100 million Chinese who took overseas trips last year.
Israel is particularly targeting middle- and upper-class tourists as well as Chinese Christians. In 2012, the Chinese tourist’s average spending per day in Israel was $286 not including souvenirs — higher than for visitors from any other country. Overall, Chinese tourists spent $102 billion on overseas travel.
As part of the government’s efforts, Tourism Minister Uzi Landau will head a delegation to China in June that will include executives from the Israeli airline and hotel industries. The 20 or so Israelis will study the needs of Chinese tourists, seek to develop ties with travel wholesalers in China, and address barriers to growth in Chinese tourism to the Holy Land.
A big barrier is the red tape in issuing tourist visas to Chinese citizens, something the Tourism Ministry aims to simplify.
“Our challenge is to dramatically reduce the amount of time — currently as much as a month — that it takes a Chinese tourist to obtain an Israeli visa,” Landau said. “To accomplish this, we are in touch with the immigration authorities, the Interior Ministry and the embassy in China.”
Another major impediment is El Al Israel Airlines’ monopoly on nonstop flights to and from China.
“We’ve had several discussions with the head of the Chinese aviation authority about more direct flights to Israel, and we’ll be appointing a special adviser precisely for that purpose — adding another airline to fly directly from China. More direct routes could change the entire picture,” Landau said, adding that efforts were being made to add a weekly charter flight from Shanghai.
The Tourism Ministry forecasts that the number of Chinese visitors will surge 60% this year to 40,000 as Israel tries to take a bigger bite into the more than $100 billion that Chinese tourists spend annually.
More than three years ago, then-Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov prioritized tourism from China. Since then, tourist arrivals from the Middle Kingdom have increased between 20% and 30% annually, but the numbers are minuscule compared to the 100 million Chinese who took overseas trips last year.
Israel is particularly targeting middle- and upper-class tourists as well as Chinese Christians. In 2012, the Chinese tourist’s average spending per day in Israel was $286 not including souvenirs — higher than for visitors from any other country. Overall, Chinese tourists spent $102 billion on overseas travel.
As part of the government’s efforts, Tourism Minister Uzi Landau will head a delegation to China in June that will include executives from the Israeli airline and hotel industries. The 20 or so Israelis will study the needs of Chinese tourists, seek to develop ties with travel wholesalers in China, and address barriers to growth in Chinese tourism to the Holy Land.
A big barrier is the red tape in issuing tourist visas to Chinese citizens, something the Tourism Ministry aims to simplify.
“Our challenge is to dramatically reduce the amount of time — currently as much as a month — that it takes a Chinese tourist to obtain an Israeli visa,” Landau said. “To accomplish this, we are in touch with the immigration authorities, the Interior Ministry and the embassy in China.”
Another major impediment is El Al Israel Airlines’ monopoly on nonstop flights to and from China.
“We’ve had several discussions with the head of the Chinese aviation authority about more direct flights to Israel, and we’ll be appointing a special adviser precisely for that purpose — adding another airline to fly directly from China. More direct routes could change the entire picture,” Landau said, adding that efforts were being made to add a weekly charter flight from Shanghai.
2014年3月26日星期三
Chinese tourists key to target
High-value Chinese tourists are central to the tourism industry's goal to reach $41 billion in revenue by 2025.That is according to outgoing Tourism Industry Association of New Zealand TIANZ chief executive Martin Snedden, who launched the industry's 10-year blueprint launch in Auckland.
The industry would focus on "growing volumes, but growing value faster", after some years during which average expenditure per tourist decreased to about $2300, Snedden said.china visa requirements houston Of the $41b goal, TIANZ wants $19.1b to come from international visitors.Industry players have all highlighted China as the prime target.
China generates $670 million in tourist earnings and that will double to $1.2b in five years, according to TIANZ.A Chinese law introduced last year banning budget shopping tours supported the step change to target higher-value, independent Chinese tourists, the TIANZ report said.
Snedden said independent Chinese tourists stayed longer, travelled more widely and spent more than their tour-bus counterparts.The public sector was working to improve visa and driver licence processing for china visa application form Chinese tourists while tourism operators were improving their activities and products, Snedden said.
Air New Zealand chief executive Christopher Luxon said tourism companies would have to be proactive in adapting to the growing Chinese market, as the airline had on its Shanghai to Auckland services.
"We have bilingual flight attendants, provide a choice of Chinese or Western-style food and offer Chinese inflight entertainment options," Luxon said.
Auckland tour company founder Neill Sperath said his company, Time Unlimited, was already attracting high-end Chinese tourist groups and was always looking to enhance its products to suit their needs.
The industry would focus on "growing volumes, but growing value faster", after some years during which average expenditure per tourist decreased to about $2300, Snedden said.china visa requirements houston Of the $41b goal, TIANZ wants $19.1b to come from international visitors.Industry players have all highlighted China as the prime target.
China generates $670 million in tourist earnings and that will double to $1.2b in five years, according to TIANZ.A Chinese law introduced last year banning budget shopping tours supported the step change to target higher-value, independent Chinese tourists, the TIANZ report said.
Snedden said independent Chinese tourists stayed longer, travelled more widely and spent more than their tour-bus counterparts.The public sector was working to improve visa and driver licence processing for china visa application form Chinese tourists while tourism operators were improving their activities and products, Snedden said.
Air New Zealand chief executive Christopher Luxon said tourism companies would have to be proactive in adapting to the growing Chinese market, as the airline had on its Shanghai to Auckland services.
"We have bilingual flight attendants, provide a choice of Chinese or Western-style food and offer Chinese inflight entertainment options," Luxon said.
Auckland tour company founder Neill Sperath said his company, Time Unlimited, was already attracting high-end Chinese tourist groups and was always looking to enhance its products to suit their needs.
Chinese families clash with police and slam Malaysia over lost plane
The company uses helicopters and a fleet of Mercedes vehicle for tours to Rotorua, the Bay of Islands, Waitomo and the Coromandel Peninsula.
Time Unlimited has an intern charged solely with researching the various niches of the Chinese market and Chinese social media websites such as Weibu, so it can adopt "Chinese-specific strategies".
"Our challenge is how we can best take advantage of this huge boost in individual Chinese arrivals, which happened as soon as they banned the discount shopping tours," Sperath said."We've quickly learned to offer Chinese catering, Mandarin guides when needed and to use hotel providers that cater to Chinese wishes.
"Auckland International Airport chief executive Adrian Littlewood said the industry needed to see China as a series of market niches that were each large enough to boost New Zealand revenues.
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"In a market of 1 billion, a niche can be several million people strong," Littlewood said.The airport has encouraged a marketing push into the Shanghai wedding market, and said similar niches could be exploited, such as the golfing or the gourmet food and wine markets.Auckland International Airport is the arrival point for the vast majority of Chinese tourists.
Littlewood said it was easier for the airport to grow Chinese passenger numbers sustainably with existing airlines, like Air New Zealand, China Southern and Cathay Pacific, than by luring new airlines, although "the airport is always looking for new partners to fly here".
Time Unlimited has an intern charged solely with researching the various niches of the Chinese market and Chinese social media websites such as Weibu, so it can adopt "Chinese-specific strategies".
"Our challenge is how we can best take advantage of this huge boost in individual Chinese arrivals, which happened as soon as they banned the discount shopping tours," Sperath said."We've quickly learned to offer Chinese catering, Mandarin guides when needed and to use hotel providers that cater to Chinese wishes.
"Auckland International Airport chief executive Adrian Littlewood said the industry needed to see China as a series of market niches that were each large enough to boost New Zealand revenues.
Ad Feedback
"In a market of 1 billion, a niche can be several million people strong," Littlewood said.The airport has encouraged a marketing push into the Shanghai wedding market, and said similar niches could be exploited, such as the golfing or the gourmet food and wine markets.Auckland International Airport is the arrival point for the vast majority of Chinese tourists.
Littlewood said it was easier for the airport to grow Chinese passenger numbers sustainably with existing airlines, like Air New Zealand, China Southern and Cathay Pacific, than by luring new airlines, although "the airport is always looking for new partners to fly here".
2014年1月16日星期四
Extra costs factor into study abroad
International travel is on the bucket list of many college students, but there are other costs besides airfare, hotels and food that students need to take into consideration when preparing to travel abroad. In order to travel internationally, a U.S. citizen must have a passport — an official document that establishes a person's identity and serves as a form of identification no matter where they find themselves in the world, according to Rebecca Laumann, study abroad director for the University of Memphis.
Although the process of obtaining appropriate documentation and traveling to unknown places may seem intimidating, students can find information on how to apply for a passport on the U of M's study abroad homepage. Passport applications are also available at local post offices. According to the U.S. Passports and International Travel Bureau, prices for adult passports start at $135, while passports for minors who are 16 years old and younger range from $80 to $100.
Having a passport is the first step to going abroad, but other important expenses include visas, international medical insurance and a calling card or cell phone plan. Many European countries don't require a visa as long as a person is staying 90 days or less, but some countries require it no matter the length of time. According to the U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs, it costs $160 to apply for a visa.
For students who need international health insurance, the U of M Study Abroad office can help students find a plan online that works for them. Through organizations like HTH Worldwide, students can obtain long-term or short-term health insurance. On HTH's website, students can get personalized quotes and purchase insurance that covers hospital care, surgery, office visits, prescription drugs and medical evacuations. Plans usually cover month by month and range from $16 to $35 a month.
Many cell phone providers have international calling packages with rates that range from $10 a month with T-Mobile to $30 for 80 minutes with AT&T. Even though it may be difficult for some students to stay away from their phones, using instant messaging clients like Skype, who offers free internet calls all around the globe, can help save money when a student is budgeting in a foreign country.
Carissa Hoitenga, a study abroad advisor for the U of M, answers student's questions about the process of applying for a passport as well as aiding them through the often-tedious process of doing so. "Students may want to travel abroad as a participant on a study abroad program, conduct research abroad as part of a thesis or simply to experience something new and explore the world outside of Memphis and the USA," she said. Hoitenga believes that while traveling abroad may seem intimidating when you begin the process, it's still something everyone should do once. According to her, traveling to different countries can bring a completely different aspect of culture and life to people, and, most importantly, it allows many to get out of their comfort zone.
2014年1月14日星期二
New e-visa is a good thing for Turkish tourism
The news that British tourists heading to Turkey this summer will have to apply online for an electronic visa before they travel may not have been welcomed by holidaymakers. But a major holiday company says the introduction of the new e-visa is a positive step for tourists and will help to reduce lengthy queues at Turkish airports.
Specialist tour operator Anatolian Sky Holidays said that holidaymakers often had to wait for hours in visa queues on arrival in Turkey and were required to have the right money in English pounds to pay for it.
Anatolian Sky managing director Akin Koc, who is also chairman of the Association of Turkish Specialist Tour Operators, claimed the new scheme was a 'positive move'. He told travel industry magazine Travel Weekly: ‘I welcome the change because the client will have extra time when they arrive at the airport and it will be a hassle-free start to their holiday.’
The e-visa will cost the same as before and will be emailed to travellers for China Work Visa application form them to print out at home after they have provided their name, date and place of birth, email address and passport details. They will then be required to present the document to immigration on arrival.
According to one immigration official: 'The entire process takes less than 10 minutes and it will speed up the whole visa application and processing system.'
Cruise ship passengers with British passports entering the country for a day trip, remaining in China Student Visa application the port of embarkation and returning to the ship the same day will continue to be able to enter Turkey without a visa or e-visa.
Mr Koc said Anatolian Sky would require customers to pay them the cost of the visa when booking their holiday but would then fill the form in for free, which he said would ‘defuse the problems at airports’.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has warned holidaymakers about unauthorised websites that could try to charge an additional application fee for the visas.
'These websites are not endorsed by or associated with the Turkish government. Be wary of such sites and businesses, particularly those that seek additional fees for other services.'
The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) has warned travel agents about the changes and says it will continue to advise them to ensure that holidaymakers are told ahead of their trips.
An ABTA spokeswoman said: 'We have already informed our members about the need for consumers travelling to Turkey to apply online for a visa for travel after 10/4/14 and we will be reminding them again this week.
'Turkey is an extremely important destination for our members and we are concerned that consumers, particularly those who have not booked through ABTA members, may not be aware of the new requirement and may as a consequence be refused entry to Turkey.'
Turkey is among the five most popular holiday destinations for Britons and a very important market for package holidays. But tourism was badly affected by political protests last year.
Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism had to last summer reassure tourists that it is safe to visit the country as anti-government protests took place in Istanbul and popular holiday resorts including Bodrum and Marmaris.
2014年1月10日星期五
Indian diplomat who was strip-searched leaves US
An Indian diplomat accused of lying about how much she paid her housekeeper left the United States after she was indicted on two criminal charges and Indian authorities refused to waive her immunity, authorities said. Devyani Khobragade, who had been strip-searched when arrested, left the country by plane Thursday night after being charged by a federal grand jury with visa fraud and making false statements in a case that has triggered an outcry in India, a senior U.S. official said. She's accused of fraudulently obtaining a work visa for her New York housekeeper.
A U.S. government official in Washington who wasn't authorized to speak about the case publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity said the U.S. accepted India's request to accredit her to the United Nations, which confers broader immunity than what she enjoyed as a consular official. It would be almost unprecedented for the U.S. to deny such a request unless the diplomat was a national security risk. The United States asked the government of India to waive the immunity, but the Indians refused, so the U.S. then "requested her departure" from the country, the official said.
At a court hearing late Thursday involving only lawyers in the case, U.S. District Judge Shira A. Scheindlin was told by Khobragade's lawyer, Daniel Arshack, that he had told Khobragade not to board a flight Thursday afternoon until he had informed the judge presiding over her case that she has diplomatic immunity and had been ordered by the Department of State to leave the country. The judge said it seemed odd that bail conditions continued to contain language that Khobragade could not leave New York when the Department of State had ordered her to do so.
"If she wants to go from India to China or something, it is not anybody's business right now. To say you may not travel outside the Southern District is kind of silly at this point," the judge said. "They have ordered her out and agreed she has diplomatic immunity now." The judge said Khobragade "is permitted to obey the order of the State Department without any adverse consequence to her and her sureties," though she said Khobragade could be arrested and forced to answer the indictment if she returned to the United States without diplomatic immunity. Arshack said Khobragade, whose nighttime flight from Kennedy Airport was delayed a couple of hours before finally taking off, was "pleased to be returning to her country."
2014年1月3日星期五
EAC Citizens Thrilled to Use ID's At Border
Crossing borders of Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya by the nations' citizens is set to increase as the use of national identity cards and other agreed national documents, including voter's card and student's identity cards, came into force yesterday. The project, to be implemented under a tripartite arrangement, was agreed upon during a summit between the three Heads of State in Uganda in June last year. The leaders agreed to establish a single tourist visa, a single customs territory-launched last year-as well as fast track a joint railway line project, oil pipeline, and adopt national identity cards as travel documents. The ID initiative is meant to facilitate free movement of people within the region as stipulated in the East African Common Market protocol, the second stage of the integration process.
A spot visit of the Rwanda-Uganda borders at Gatuna by The New Times showed that the rollout of the new initiative was long over due. Although it was New Year's public holiday, lines formed at the migration offices with several Rwandans using their identity cards to cross to Uganda. The same scenario transpired on Ugandan side of the border. "I'm going to Kabale District in Uganda to visit my friends. I just heard that today people will start crossing the border with identity cards; I don't have a passport so I had to utilise this opportunity," Theoneste Ndindiriyimana, from Gicumbi District, said at Gatuna border. Boniface Tumwijukye, a Ugandan from Ntungamo District, who crossed to Rwanda using his ID, said it would serve citizens more if the project was extended to Burundi and Tanzania as well. "I'm going to Cyangugu for adult English teaching; it's a good process because you don't have to spend much time at the border. However, to make it fully beneficial it needs to be extended to other countries to help us move in all East African countries freely," the teacher said.
Currently, only Rwandans and Kenyans have national identity cards, meaning Ugandans will be using voter's cards until the country issues IDs to its citizens. At Kigali International Airport, all systems were set to receive Kenyans and Ugandans using identity cards or voter's cards as travel documents and also to allow Rwandans flying out to the two destinations to use the same document. However, by the time this paper visited the immigration offices at the airport, (at around 5pm) there had not been a single traveller who had used the new system. But the officer in charge of immigration at the airport, Charles Nkubito, confirmed that all systems were set and immigration staff notified on the new procedures. "The security staff and other personnel are well aware of the new system and will allow Rwandans to check in with their identity cards and also to receive Kenyan and Ugandan visitors using the arrangement. But most of our travellers are still using passports," he said.
2013年12月31日星期二
The stories came at a cost
A key part of their work was ensuring safe communication between Chinese citizens and Western press at a time when reporters from Western countries were under close surveillance in China. “Reporters have been followed by Chinese agents so closely to the degree that it interfered with their personal lives,” Cheng said. They got in touch with reporters from major media such as Time Magazine, BBC, Washington Post, the Associated Press, and Wall Street Journal. Some traveled to China specifically to report on the persecution, while most were working from their Beijing bureaus. There is a special public security bureau, the 13th Bureau, which looks over the security of hotels and other places where foreign journalists may go. Reporters were often followed. Their phones were bugged.
When a foreign journalist checks into a hotel, one of the first things the receptionist does is call the security bureau to let them know the journalist has arrived. Yu helped foreign journalists download the encryption files. Ian Johnson from the Wall Street Journal had his file split into 30 separate parts. Their main communication with the reporters was via encrypted email. They did speak on the China Crew Visa application form phone at times but they changed SIM cards often. They would always switch to a new SIM card 30 minutes before a phone call occurred. They would always secure two safe meeting locations. Wang would visit each location several times before a meeting occurred. The first location would be one that allowed those inside to look out and see who was approaching—McDonald’s restaurants worked well, for instance. This location was a checkpoint to determine if the journalist was followed, and by how many.
They would tell the journalist to not buy any food and go straight to the second floor. If someone followed him straight upstairs, it was a red flag. The journalist would not speak to or meet anyone from the team. They observed the people who came and looked inside the restaurant and didn’t go in—another red flag. They observed those who entered after the journalist did. The team would make China Business Visa application an on-the-spot decision whether to abort the meeting or go forward. A taxi would take the journalist to a spot where he could shake off any tail. For instance, it might take him to a road with a median that would prevent a U-turn. Beneath the road would be a pedestrian underpass.
The journalist would alight from the taxi and quickly walk down and through the underpass. A following car could not drive to the opposite side of the road to observe the journalist. The underpass would lead to a narrow alley that a car could not drive through. At the end of the alley a pre-arranged taxi would be waiting. The journalist would hop in the taxi and be gone before any tail could follow him. The chances of them getting caught and arrested were high. There were times when one reporter was followed by as many as six groups of agents. Yet in two years, Yu helped arrange interviews between Falun Gong practitioners and a dozen reporters. Around 20 persecuted practitioners were interviewed. The journalist and the interviewees were kept safe every time.
2013年12月25日星期三
Federal judge issues scathing order highlighting DHS’s criminal activity
The order was issued one day after he sentenced Mirtha Nava-Martinez to 10 months in prison for transporting an illegal alien child within the United States for the purpose of commercial advantage and private financial gain.
On May 18, Nava-Martinez, a resident alien and admitted human trafficker, was arrested at the Brownsville, Texas/Matamoros, Mexico Bridge checkpoint while trying to smuggle a child, Y.P.S., into the United States using a birth certificate that belonged to one of her daughters.
The conspiracy was initiated when Patricia Elizabeth Salmeron Santos, who is residing illegally in the United States, solicited human traffickers to smuggle her daughter “Y.P.S.” from El Salvador to Virginia.
Salmeron Santos, who applied for a tourist visa in 2000 but was turned down, subsequently China Business Visa application form entered the United States illegally and currently resides in Virginia.
Salmeron Santos admitted to hiring alien smugglers for $8,500 to transport her child from El Salvador to Virginia and paid $6,000 in advance. That criminal conspiracy was temporarily interrupted when Nava-Martinez was arrested.
However, Hanen pointed out, “Despite this setback, the goal of the conspiracy was successfully completed thanks to the actions of the United States government,” and said his court was quite concerned with DHS’ policy “of completing the criminal mission of individuals who are violating the border security of the United States.”
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents stopped Nava-Martinez at the border inspection point, where she was arrested, the child was taken into custody and DHS officials were notified Salmeron Santos instigated the illegal conduct.
Hanen stated, “Yet, instead of arresting Salmeron Santos for instigating the conspiracy to violate China Visa Services our border security laws, the DHS delivered the child to her – thus successfully completing the mission of the criminal conspiracy. It did not arrest her. It did not prosecute her. It did not even initiate deportation proceedings for her. This DHS policy is a dangerous course of action.”
Because the government’s actions were not performed in connection with a sting operation or controlled delivery situation, Hanen stated DHS was actually assisting the criminal conspiracy in achieving its illegal goals instead of enforcing our border security laws.
In fact, he said DHS’ actions were in furtherance of Y.P.S.’s illegal presence in the United States by completing the mission of the conspiracy initiated by Salmeron Santos.
Hanen said, “In summary, instead of enforcing the laws of the United States, the government took direct steps to help the individuals who violated it. A private citizen would and should be prosecuted for this conduct.”
2013年12月19日星期四
Puppy Doe suspect may have stolen from elderly woman
The man accused of torturing Puppy Doe, the pit bull whose brutal abuse has garnered worldwide attention, is being held without bail and may face additional charges for allegedly taking at least $50,000 from an elderly woman he was living with in Quincy.
Radoslaw Czerkawski, 32, formerly of Quincy, was arraigned Thursday in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham with dozens of Puppy Doe supporters in attendance. Before the arraignment, the group held signs and called for tougher penalties against animal abusers during a makeshift rally in front of the courthouse.
One woman was escorted out of the courtroom after she said "He's a scumbag. He should die in jail." The audience erupted in applause when the judge announced Czerkawski would be held without bail.
Czerkawski, a native of Poland who is in the U.S. on an expired tourist visa, pleaded innoncent china visa requirements houston to 12 counts of animal cruelty and one charge of misleading police in the case involving Puppy Doe, the name given to the abused pit bull found in Quincy on Aug. 31. The dog had to be destroyed because of her injuries.
The judge ordered Czerkawski held without bail because, if he made bail, she said he would likely be deported to Poland by federal officials and would never stand trial in Massachusetts.
Norfolk County Assistant District Attorney Tracy Cusick said Czerkawski may be charged for stealing from an elderly Quincy woman he was supposed to be caring for. Cusick said Czerkawski brought the elderly woman, also a native of Poland, to the bank and deposited $100,000 of her money into a shared account. She said he transferred $50,000 of that money into his own account, and also took control china tourist visa application of savings bonds under the woman's name.
The woman, in her 90s, died in late August around the same time Puppy Doe was found on Carroll's Lane in Quincy. Police said the woman died of natural causes.
Czerkawski, who was previously being held on $500,000 cash bail, faces up to five years in prison on each animal cruelty charge. Investigators said Czerkawski repeatedly abused Puppy Doe, a female dog that was about 1 years old, while he was serving as a caretaker for the elderly woman on Whitwell Street in Quincy. The woman's family had hired Czerkawski to care for her, police said.
Investigators said the dog was kept in a small, constrictive living space, was starved and suffered a myriad of injuries including dislocated limbs, bone fractures, a split tongue and a stab wound.
Czerkawski was arrested Oct. 28 in Connecticut after Quincy police tracked several leads tracing Puppy Doe's past owners. One of the dog's original owners named her "Kiya," police said.
2013年12月17日星期二
Afghan interpreters plead for US visas
After a five-year wait, Mohamed Janis Shinwari is relieved to be in the United States, safe from the threats of the Taliban.
But as a former interpreter for US troops in Afghanistan, Shinwari fears for the lives of his colleagues back home, who are desperately trying to secure US visas.
“I am very worried for my friends. They have no protection,” Shinwari said.
“Now I want the US government to pay attention and work hard to get those other interpreters from Afghanistan to the United States,” he said.
“If they get caught by the Taliban, they are going to get killed.”
The 36-year-old Shinwari along with his wife and two children now live in the Washington suburbs. He might never have secured a visa without the relentless effort of a US soldier, Matt Zeller, who became his close friend.
Zeller is fiercely loyal to Shinwari because the Afghan came to his aid at a dire moment on the battlefield, gunning down two Taliban insurgents who were closing in for the kill.
“I was pinned down and I thought, this is it, I am going to die on this hillside, probably by a Taliban bullet,” Zeller said. “He saved my life.”
Zeller hardly knew Shinwari, but after that life-saving moment, he became fast friends with the Afghan.
At the end of Zeller’s tour in December 2008, he promised Shinwari, whom he calls his “brother,” that he would get him and his family a visa to live in the United States.
“I just didn’t think it would take five years,” said Zeller, sitting next to his former translator on a sofa in his apartment in northern Virginia.
When Shinwari’s visa application stalled, Zeller drummed up media coverage, contacted members of Congress and organised an online petition that attracted tens of thousands of signatures.
Shinwari had to submit to two lie detector tests, and lawmakers made phone calls to senior government officials to break the logjam over his case.
“I wasn’t going to resign him to getting beheaded in front of his family and tortured and killed,” said Zeller, now a captain in the Army reserves. “I couldn’t live with that.”
While the Army officer persuaded lawmakers and news media to focus on his interpreter’s plight, thousands of other interpreters who risked their lives for American troops are still in peril, Zeller said.
With US forces now withdrawing and conducting few patrols, Eshan’s translation work has dried up and his application for a visa seems to be moving in slow motion, despite reference letters from Americans he worked with.
But as a former interpreter for US troops in Afghanistan, Shinwari fears for the lives of his colleagues back home, who are desperately trying to secure US visas.
“I am very worried for my friends. They have no protection,” Shinwari said.
“Now I want the US government to pay attention and work hard to get those other interpreters from Afghanistan to the United States,” he said.
“If they get caught by the Taliban, they are going to get killed.”
The 36-year-old Shinwari along with his wife and two children now live in the Washington suburbs. He might never have secured a visa without the relentless effort of a US soldier, Matt Zeller, who became his close friend.
Zeller is fiercely loyal to Shinwari because the Afghan came to his aid at a dire moment on the battlefield, gunning down two Taliban insurgents who were closing in for the kill.
“I was pinned down and I thought, this is it, I am going to die on this hillside, probably by a Taliban bullet,” Zeller said. “He saved my life.”
Zeller hardly knew Shinwari, but after that life-saving moment, he became fast friends with the Afghan.
At the end of Zeller’s tour in December 2008, he promised Shinwari, whom he calls his “brother,” that he would get him and his family a visa to live in the United States.
“I just didn’t think it would take five years,” said Zeller, sitting next to his former translator on a sofa in his apartment in northern Virginia.
When Shinwari’s visa application stalled, Zeller drummed up media coverage, contacted members of Congress and organised an online petition that attracted tens of thousands of signatures.
Shinwari had to submit to two lie detector tests, and lawmakers made phone calls to senior government officials to break the logjam over his case.
“I wasn’t going to resign him to getting beheaded in front of his family and tortured and killed,” said Zeller, now a captain in the Army reserves. “I couldn’t live with that.”
While the Army officer persuaded lawmakers and news media to focus on his interpreter’s plight, thousands of other interpreters who risked their lives for American troops are still in peril, Zeller said.
With US forces now withdrawing and conducting few patrols, Eshan’s translation work has dried up and his application for a visa seems to be moving in slow motion, despite reference letters from Americans he worked with.
2013年12月14日星期六
Vietnam's failure to act on its rhetoric
Vietnam's failure to act on its rhetoric about simplifying its visa procedures, including those relating to visa-on-arrival, will see it fall further behind its neighbors in wooing visitors, a business grouping has warned.The Vietnam Business Forum, a consortium of international and local business associations and chambers of commerce, said in its annual report released last week that there has been "no progress" in ushering in a transparent,application for china visa in houston open, and effective visa-on-arrival system."It has been noted the 'visa-on-arrival' area at the airport provides no clear information on the necessary forms, policies, or fees; little English is spoken; and there is no queuing/numbering system in place," the report said.
This is in contrast to most other Southeast Asian countries, which have efficient visa-on-arrival systems that make it easy for tourists to plan their trips.For Vietnam, tourists have to apply for their visas weeks in advance, send their passports to the Vietnamese embassies or go online for letters to confirm their visas will be issued on arrival, and then end up waiting for a long time after arriving in the country."With the exception of Myanmar, Vietnam is the only country in Southeast Asia where visitors from major tourist nations … still have to go through a pre-approval process before traveling," the report said.Tourists also complain that when they go to Cambodia or Laos, they can simply turn up and pay US$25 on arrival while Vietnam charges almost double at $45 for a 30-day or 90-day single entry visa, the most expensive in the region.
But, admit experts and tourists, while visa fees are an issue they do not deter many people from coming. What does put off people is the lack of a true visa-on-arrival system as found in Cambodia or Thailand."So we consider that Vietnam is an exception rather than the rule and that its current visa policy is deterring foreign visitors rather than encouraging them," Kenneth Atkinson,china travel visa in houston head of the grouping's Working Group for Hospitality and Tourism, told Vietweek.At a biannual meeting with the Vietnam Business Forum (VBF) last June, Vietnamese officials had promised several major improvements to the visa system.
This is in contrast to most other Southeast Asian countries, which have efficient visa-on-arrival systems that make it easy for tourists to plan their trips.For Vietnam, tourists have to apply for their visas weeks in advance, send their passports to the Vietnamese embassies or go online for letters to confirm their visas will be issued on arrival, and then end up waiting for a long time after arriving in the country."With the exception of Myanmar, Vietnam is the only country in Southeast Asia where visitors from major tourist nations … still have to go through a pre-approval process before traveling," the report said.Tourists also complain that when they go to Cambodia or Laos, they can simply turn up and pay US$25 on arrival while Vietnam charges almost double at $45 for a 30-day or 90-day single entry visa, the most expensive in the region.
But, admit experts and tourists, while visa fees are an issue they do not deter many people from coming. What does put off people is the lack of a true visa-on-arrival system as found in Cambodia or Thailand."So we consider that Vietnam is an exception rather than the rule and that its current visa policy is deterring foreign visitors rather than encouraging them," Kenneth Atkinson,china travel visa in houston head of the grouping's Working Group for Hospitality and Tourism, told Vietweek.At a biannual meeting with the Vietnam Business Forum (VBF) last June, Vietnamese officials had promised several major improvements to the visa system.
2013年12月9日星期一
Turkey Take Step Toward Visa-free Travel
The European Union took steps on Wednesday towards lifting visa requirements for Turkish citizens, in a move underscoring a new thaw in relations between Ankara and the 28-member bloc.The two sides agreed to sign an agreement allowing EU governments to send back illegal immigrants crossing into Europe from Turkey. In return, the EU agreed to enter into official discussions on how the current requirement for a visa when travelling to Europe could be dropped.Turkey, a candidate for EU membership, lies on a major route for illegal migration into Europe from Africa and the Middle East.But talks on the "readmission agreement" to send back illegal immigrants have been stalled for years, largely due to Turkish distrust over the EU's willingness to ease visa rules.
"The agreement creates sustainable momentum in our relations that should first of all have the positive impact of putting accession talks back on track," EU enlargement commission Stefan Fuele told reporters.In another sign of improved relations, Turkey and the EU began a new round of membership talks last month. Talks had been delayed by the bloc in protests over a Turkish crackdown on anti-government demonstrations.Turkey began negotiations to join the EU in 2005, 18 years after applying. But a series of political obstacles, notably over the divided island of Cyprus, and resistance to Turkish membership in Germany and France, have slowed progress.
Turkish citizens have taken a step closer to visa-free travel to the EU, officials from the European Commission and the Turkish government said on Wednesday.Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu told reporters in Brussels will sign a agreement on December the 16th.He said the deal marked a "historic day for Turkish people, for the EU and for the process of Turkish integration.""After long efforts by Turkish and European authorities, today we agreed to start, to launch visa liberalisation dialogue and also to sign readmission agreement," Ankara's top diplomat said.In return, Ankara will be expected to sign a deal that will allow EU governments to send back illegal immigrants crossing into Europe from Turkey.
"The agreement creates sustainable momentum in our relations that should first of all have the positive impact of putting accession talks back on track," EU enlargement commission Stefan Fuele told reporters.In another sign of improved relations, Turkey and the EU began a new round of membership talks last month. Talks had been delayed by the bloc in protests over a Turkish crackdown on anti-government demonstrations.Turkey began negotiations to join the EU in 2005, 18 years after applying. But a series of political obstacles, notably over the divided island of Cyprus, and resistance to Turkish membership in Germany and France, have slowed progress.
Turkish citizens have taken a step closer to visa-free travel to the EU, officials from the European Commission and the Turkish government said on Wednesday.Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu told reporters in Brussels will sign a agreement on December the 16th.He said the deal marked a "historic day for Turkish people, for the EU and for the process of Turkish integration.""After long efforts by Turkish and European authorities, today we agreed to start, to launch visa liberalisation dialogue and also to sign readmission agreement," Ankara's top diplomat said.In return, Ankara will be expected to sign a deal that will allow EU governments to send back illegal immigrants crossing into Europe from Turkey.
2013年12月4日星期三
Under the temporary protection visas promised by the Coalition
Scott Morrison says his decision to leave asylum seekers already in Australia on indefinite bridging visas without work rights will leave them worse off but was necessary to get around parliament's refusal to reintroduce Howard era-style temporary protection visas."We have shut the permanent protection visa shop," the immigration minister told a Canberra press conference."The door has been sealed shut … the prime minister and I made it clear that under no circumstances will this government provide permanent protection visas to people who arrive illegally by boat. You must be consistent when it comes to border protection."The practice of the previous government was to keep that shop open."Morrison confirmed he had issued a legislative instrument to cap permanent protection visas for this financial year at the number already issued, and said he would also stop any more of the asylum seekers already in Australia having their claims processed.
Under the temporary protection visas promised by the Coalition apply for china visa in houston– but disallowed this week by Labor and the Greens in the Senate – asylum seekers would receive full unemployment benefits under requirements that they take part in work-for-the-dole style programs, and would be allowed to seek paid employment.Under the bridging visas introduced by the former Labor government, which will now be continued indefinitely for all asylum seekers in Australia, they receive 89% of the dole and are not allowed to seek work. Under the Coalition, work-for-the-dole will also apply.Morrison said this meant the tactics of Labor and the Greens would save the government money,china tourist visa application form because few of the asylum seekers would gain work and the benefits available under bridging visas were cheaper.
The explanatory memorandum published late on Tuesday night with the ministerial decision say: "The instrument is exempt from disallowance and therefore a human rights statement of compatibility is not required."Morrison said the government was "well advanced" in implementing his pre-election promise to introduce "behavioural protocols" for asylum seekers on bridging visas, and had been liaising with state police so they knew where the asylum seekers were living.
Under the temporary protection visas promised by the Coalition apply for china visa in houston– but disallowed this week by Labor and the Greens in the Senate – asylum seekers would receive full unemployment benefits under requirements that they take part in work-for-the-dole style programs, and would be allowed to seek paid employment.Under the bridging visas introduced by the former Labor government, which will now be continued indefinitely for all asylum seekers in Australia, they receive 89% of the dole and are not allowed to seek work. Under the Coalition, work-for-the-dole will also apply.Morrison said this meant the tactics of Labor and the Greens would save the government money,china tourist visa application form because few of the asylum seekers would gain work and the benefits available under bridging visas were cheaper.
The explanatory memorandum published late on Tuesday night with the ministerial decision say: "The instrument is exempt from disallowance and therefore a human rights statement of compatibility is not required."Morrison said the government was "well advanced" in implementing his pre-election promise to introduce "behavioural protocols" for asylum seekers on bridging visas, and had been liaising with state police so they knew where the asylum seekers were living.
There was just one very odd moment
Bennett added: "There was just one very odd moment when an officer I had deployed with called me to his office and said: 'This will never work out, what do you think you are doing.' All I could think of to say to him was 'I love him, we love each other.'"Karim was approved for a visa online on 1 April this year. "I was crying, I couldn't breathe, when I heard," Bennett said. But when Karim went to pick it up at the US embassy in Kabul, he was told there had been a mistake with the online status for a batch of visas, and that his was still being processed.Karin and Bennett both admit to feeling nervous about meeting again after so long, but both are convinced that a relationship kept alive by phones and internet can last in real life too.
"Everything changes in three years, but when you come to love, it doesn't change," Karim said. "I knew the visa would take a long time and tried to tell her, but because it was her first experience of this she thought it wouldn't be more than six months."Bennett and Rollins share the stress of waiting for any updates on the immigration process on Facebook pages dotted with photographs and links to news stories about other interpreters hoping for a visa, a forum for applicants in limbo, and articles about the perilous situation of some who have been refused.The US has promised a special visa programme for Afghan interpreters who took on jobs for its military that exposed them to bombings and battles at work and retaliation at home if what they did for a living was revealed.
But hundreds of applicants have been waiting for years, and a growing number say they have been turned down because the US state department believes there is no serious threat against their lives.One picture from this autumn shows a young Afghan, smiling with other interpreters in US military uniform. News had just filtered through that he had been killed while off-duty.Karim and Zia's cases are unusual because they are applying for fiance or spouse visas. But both have the same years of service and testimonials to their bravery and loyalty as the other applicants – and the same agonising wait."There must be some reason why we have to be apart for so long," Rollins said. "Everything else has been so perfect, and then the visa is just not happening. I just have to remember that it is going to work out in the end."
"Everything changes in three years, but when you come to love, it doesn't change," Karim said. "I knew the visa would take a long time and tried to tell her, but because it was her first experience of this she thought it wouldn't be more than six months."Bennett and Rollins share the stress of waiting for any updates on the immigration process on Facebook pages dotted with photographs and links to news stories about other interpreters hoping for a visa, a forum for applicants in limbo, and articles about the perilous situation of some who have been refused.The US has promised a special visa programme for Afghan interpreters who took on jobs for its military that exposed them to bombings and battles at work and retaliation at home if what they did for a living was revealed.
But hundreds of applicants have been waiting for years, and a growing number say they have been turned down because the US state department believes there is no serious threat against their lives.One picture from this autumn shows a young Afghan, smiling with other interpreters in US military uniform. News had just filtered through that he had been killed while off-duty.Karim and Zia's cases are unusual because they are applying for fiance or spouse visas. But both have the same years of service and testimonials to their bravery and loyalty as the other applicants – and the same agonising wait."There must be some reason why we have to be apart for so long," Rollins said. "Everything else has been so perfect, and then the visa is just not happening. I just have to remember that it is going to work out in the end."
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