Senators aim to update visa rules

A bipartisan group of senators is aiming to update and streamline a slew of visa rules to boost international travel to the United States. 

The package, a combination of bills previously introduced, is designed to bolster the economic recovery by reducing costs, speeding up visa times and easing restrictions for visitors interested in traveling to the United States. 

Seven senators — Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) — unveiled the legislation on Monday, arguing that it could add nearly $100 billion to the economy and create 700,000 jobs in the next decade.

“With the global travel market set to dramatically increase in the coming years, it is critical that we harness its power to boost our travel and tourism industries,” Schumer said. 

“It is extremely important and vastly beneficial to our nation’s health.”

The senators argue that the legislation — the Jobs Originated through Launching Travel (JOLT) Act — is needed to ignite the tourism industry. In the past 10 years the U.S. market share of worldwide overseas travel market has dropped from 17 percent to less than 12 percent, as global travel is expected to double over the next decade. 

A hearing will be held Tuesday on the legislation. 

“At a time when we’re facing lagging job growth, boosting our tourism industry will help to jumpstart much-needed job creation and spur economic opportunity in Missouri and nationwide," Blunt said.

“By streamlining our visa processing system without jeopardizing our nation’s security, we can welcome more international visitors and provide new opportunities for private sector job creators," he said. 

International travel to the United States represents a significant component of the economy. Studies show that, on average, each overseas visitor spends about $4,000, the senators said in a release. 

In 2011, international visitors spent a record $153 billion on U.S. travel and tourism-related goods and services, the Commerce Department reported last week. 

The White House and State Department have announced plans to add visa centers in countries like China and Brazil, where demand for travel is the greatest. 

"This administration will not let up on our efforts to support the tourism industry and make America more welcoming to visitors from all over the world,” said Commerce Secretary John Bryson.

“The international travel data further underscores the fact that America is open for business, and we will do everything we can to boost this industry so that we can keep growing our economy and creating more jobs.”

Under current law, the wait time for U.S. visas can be as long as 100 days for travelers from certain countries. 

In addition, the $140 visa application fee and the cost of travel to distant consulates in certain countries for visa interviews has hampered travel to the United States. 

The measure aims to encourage the State Department to issue Chinese visitor visas that last longer than the current one-year maximum and provide some Canadian "snowbird" visitors with visas to stay up to 240 days, up from 180. 

Under current law, Chinese nationals must apply for new U.S. visas every year to travel to the United States, while travelers from other countries can receive up to 10-year, multiple-entry visas.

The bill asks the State Department to lower visa application fees during off-peak seasons to give travelers the incentive to apply for visas when demand is lower, with the increase in visa application volume expected to make up for lower application fees. 

The measure would allow the State Department to charge a fee for expediting some tourist and business travel visas. Under the bill, State would issue a visa within three business days and, with the fee, increase capacity to more quickly process those visas in India, China and Brazil.

The bill also sets standards for visa processing, conducting interviews within 15 days of requesting an appointment and, after one year, lower the wait time to 10 days.

The legislation also would allow Customs and Border Protection to add foreign dignitaries to the global entry program on a “case-by-case” basis, and establish tough standards for visa processing times. 

Under the measure, Poland and other nations would be allowed to join the Visa Waiver Program.

“A grandmother from Gdańsk shouldn’t need a visa to visit her grandkids in Baltimore," Mikulski said. "I’ve fought for years to ensure that we expand this important program in a way that keeps our borders secure while allowing travelers who want nothing other than to see family, conduct business, or tour our great country to do so without going through a long and expensive process."