Vietnam braces for Typhoon Wipha following multiple tragedies
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A look at Japan's tsunami preparedness
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US tightens visa interview rules: What Singaporeans need to know
SINGAPORE: The United States will tighten its rules for visa interviews from Sep 2, requiring all non-immigrant visa applicants, including children under 14 and adults over 79, to attend in-person interviews. The changes, announced on Jul 25 by the US State Department, reverse earlier waivers and signal a shift toward stricter screening for short-term travel and business visas. The update follows the introduction of a new US$250 processing fee for non-immigrant visa applications earlier the same week. On Tuesday (Jul 29), the US Embassy in Singapore posted about the upcoming visa interview changes on its Facebook page. But do these new rules apply to most Singaporeans? Here's what you need to know. WHAT'S CHANGING ON SEP 2? Starting Sep 2, all non-immigrant visa applicants, regardless of age, will require an in-person interview. Non-immigrant visas allow foreign nationals to enter the US for a specific purpose, such as tourism, business, study or other temporary stays. The updated rules also tighten eligibility for interview waivers during certain visa renewals. Under the updated guidelines, applicants who are renewing their B-1, B-2 or B1/B2 visas will only qualify for an interview waiver if they were at least 18 years old at the time their prior visa was issued. The B-1 visa is for business, the B-2 for tourism, while the B1/B2 visa is a single visa that allows for both business and tourism activities. WILL THIS AFFECT MY HOLIDAY? In response to CNA's queries, the US Embassy in Singapore said on Wednesday that Singaporeans travelling under the Visa Waiver Program are unaffected by these changes. However, they must still apply for authorisation through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). Singapore is part of the US Visa Waiver Program, which allows citizens of certain countries and territories to travel to the US for tourism or business without needing a visa. If you do not need a visa, there is no visa interview to worry about, so the Sep 2 changes will not apply to you. However, travellers who are ineligible for the Visa Waiver Program are required to apply for a visa to travel to the US and must attend an interview. This is unrelated to the interview waiver changes, the embassy added.
CNA
2 days ago
- CNA
Cable cars on Mount Faber line hit by 2-hour service disruption, passengers told to alight
SINGAPORE: A "temporary service disruption" that lasted about two hours halted the cable car service along the Mount Faber line on Tuesday (Jul 29). In response to CNA's queries, Mount Faber Leisure Group, which operates the cable cars, said that the disruption occurred at 12.46pm. It immediately began alighting guests at their nearest stations, which was done by 1.06pm. The Mount Faber line resumed operations at 2.45pm, it added. The cable cars, a tourist attraction in the southern part of Singapore, comprises two lines. The first connects Mount Faber, Harbourfront and Sentosa stations, while the other connects Sensoryscape, Imbiah Lookout and Siloso Point stations. A customer service officer told CNA earlier that a "technical issue" started at about 12.40pm and that more than six passengers had contacted the operator about the incident. CNA reader Pamela Au, who was hiking in the area, said she noticed that the cable cars had stopped moving at about 1.10pm. At around 2.50pm, CNA heard station staff members at Mount Faber telling passengers that the cable cars had resumed service. Passengers were seen buying tickets and queueing to enter the cable cars. Mount Faber Leisure Group said in a statement to CNA: "As a safety precaution, all guests were promptly disembarked to the nearest station per our operating procedures. Alternative transport arrangements were provided to affected guests. Cable car operations resumed operations shortly after. "The well-being and safety of our guests remain our top priority, and we remain committed to delivering a safe and enjoyable experience for our guests."
