All articles tagged with #visa requirements
The US has introduced new visa interview requirements and a $250 visa fee, exacerbating long wait times and deterring international tourists, which could lead to a significant decline in tourism revenue and economic impact in 2025.
Canada has reinstated visa requirements for Mexican nationals due to a surge in asylum claims, with more than half of the applications being abandoned or rejected. The influx of immigrants has strained the government of Quebec, leading to a record high of asylum claims from Mexico. The move comes after pressure from Quebec, which has seen a significant increase in asylum seekers, and follows a border deal between Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and US President Joe Biden to close a loophole allowing asylum seekers to enter at unofficial points on the Canada-US border.
Canada is considering imposing visa requirements on Mexican visitors to curb the influx of asylum seekers and prevent them from using Canada as a back door into the US. The surge in migrant apprehensions at the US-Canada border has prompted Ottawa to reevaluate its visa policy, with concerns about Mexican drug cartels facilitating human trafficking. Quebec's leaders have expressed financial strain from the influx of asylum seekers, prompting calls for action from both Canadian and US officials. Meanwhile, Texas has started arresting migrants for trespassing, marking a departure from normal immigration procedures at the border.
China is relaxing visa requirements for foreigners, including allowing re-entry visa applications, simplifying the visa process, and offering port visas for urgent entry, in a bid to boost business, education, and tourism and stimulate its slowing economy.
Iran has announced that it is lifting visa requirements for 33 countries, including Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia, as part of its efforts to engage with different countries. This decision increases the number of countries whose citizens can visit Iran without a visa to 45. The move is seen as another step towards thawing relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which recently agreed to restore full diplomatic relations. The list of countries includes Lebanon, Tunisia, India, several Central Asian and African nations, as well as Croatia. Iranian pilgrims will also begin regular travel to Saudi Arabia for the first time in eight years.