Latest news with #USDepartmentOfState
Skift
6 days ago
- Business
- Skift
What Your International Attendees Need to Know to Enter the U.S.
U.S. entry requirements vary by country and can be confusing. We break it down for you. The two most important things to remember when bringing international attendees into the U.S. for an event are: 1. to start early and 2. to carefully explain the process to avoid any confusion. B-1/B-2 Visas A B-1/B-2 visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows foreign nationals to travel to the United States temporarily for business (B-1), tourism (B-2), or a mix of both (B-1/B-2). Many meeting attendees coming from afar choose to spend some time traveling on their own before or after the meeting, so the B-1/B-2 visa is common, while attendees who are planning only to attend the meeting would choose a B-1 visa. This can be confusing because a B-2 visa is adequate for those attending a conference, but only if it is related to a personal interest, such as events hosted by fraternal, social, or service organizations, or enrollment in a short recreational course of study that's not for credit toward a degree. More information is available on the U.S. Department of State website. The visa process involves submitting documents that show the purpose of the trip and financial proof that the attendee can return to his or her home country. Visa applications and step-by-step instructions are available on the U.S. Embassy or Consulate website. Attendees will need to fill out the online visa application, Form DS-160, which requires uploading a photo, then print the application form confirmation page to bring to the interview. An in-person interview is the next step required for visa applicants; attendees should generally schedule an appointment for their visa interviews at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where they live. Appointment wait times are based on workload and staffing and can vary. A list of wait times by country can be found on the U.S. Department of State website. The cost for a visa is $185, and B visas are typically valid for up to 10 years from the issue date. Letter of Invitation Planners are required to create a letter of invitation for international attendees to bring with them to their visa appointment as proof that they have been invited to the conference. It's important that the letter includes: conference details — name, date, and location organizer information — name, affiliation, and contact details invited participant information — name, affiliation, and contact details. One way to learn more about invitation letters is to research those written by other organizations for their international conferences, which are often available right on their websites for attendees to download. Visa Waiver Program The Visa Waiver Programm, administered by the Department of Homeland Security, enables citizens or nationals of 40 countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less without first obtaining a visa. Attendees should submit their ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) applications, which include biographical information and eligibility questions, as soon as they start planning their travel. They must have an e-Passport with an embedded electronic chip to apply for the Visa Waiver Program. It's important to note that the final determination of whether a traveler is allowed into the country is ultimately made by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers upon arrival. What is the New Visa Integrity Fee? A new $250 'integrity fee' (adjusted annually for inflation) will start in fiscal year 2026, which begins October 1. The fee will apply to all non-immigrant visa holders, including meeting-goers. People from the more than 40 Visa Waiver Program countries and Canada are not subject to the visa integrity fee. Travelers are eligible for reimbursement after the visa expires, as long as they don't overstay the visa expiration date by more than five days or engage in unauthorized work. Details about how to apply for reimbursement are forthcoming.
News24
6 days ago
- Politics
- News24
DR Congo: Little hope for robust truce with M23 rebel group
The US, UN and the African Union (AU) were among the first to welcome the 19 July truce between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the M23 rebel group which had been championed by the US and Qatar. The Doha Declaration of Principles, building on a peace deal Congo and Rwanda signed in Washington on 27 June, was meant to serve as another 'meaningful step toward advancing lasting peace and stability in the Great Lakes region', according to the US Department of State. Rwanda's willingness to sign, and its passive observation of, the Doha agreement was seen as tacit admittance to its role in the long-standing conflict, although Kigali continues to deny its support of the M23. Is the DRC a no-go zone? Just one day after the signing in Doha, the US updated its security advisory for the DRC and especially its capital, Kinshasa, advising US nationals in the country to 'exercise increased awareness, avoid large gatherings, and monitor local news and security updates'. READ | Peace deal with Rwanda opens way to 'new era', says DR Congo president The list of recommended actions include the provision of 'enough food and water should you need to stay home for several days' and having 'essential items (clothing, medications, travel documents) packed in a bag that you can carry'. Amani Alimasi/AFP The advisory resembles the kind of advice US authorities issue residents to prepare for major natural disasters. Reagan Miviri, a conflict analyst and lawyer working with the Congo Research Group in Kinshasa - an independent, nonprofit research project - understands the importance of the US State Department's latest travel advisory. 'The crisis in eastern Congo is also visible in Kinshasa in some ways,' she told DW. 'Actors in the US [who] are worried about what could happen in Kinshasa … probably know much more than we do, so perhaps they have other information we don't have.' According to Lidewyde Berckmoes, an associate professor and senior researcher at the African Studies Centre Leiden in the Netherlands, many parts of the DRC still actively remain under the control of the M23, which is unlikely to change despite this deal. Camille Laffont/AFP 'This region has seen many violent rebel movements, who have been there since the 1990s. There are many places where there's a lot of tension, and where authority is contested,' Berckmoes, whose work is focused on Africa's Great Lakes region, told DW. M23 expansion course continues On the ground, the reality of a state of war effectively continues to dictate daily lives in various parts of the country - especially eastern DRC's North and South Kivu provinces. Mere days after the DRC-M23 truce was signed, fresh reports of M23 rebels seizing new ground surfaced. According to UN-backed Radio Okapi in the DRC, at least 19 civilians were killed by M23 fighters as part of that expansion, in particular around the village of Bukera. This latest escalation is in clear breach of the Doha ceasefire deal, which calls on all sides in the conflict to stop efforts to expand their territorial gains - among various other stipulations. A truce with an ambiguous message Human rights activist Philemon Ruzinge believes the Doha deal will ultimately be of little consequence, despite whatever concessions Kinshasa may make to keep the peace. 'The agreement of principles is supposed to be … so important toward a lasting peace agreement,' he told DW, adding that the ongoing actions of M23 rebels leave little hope for it to work in the long run. HughAccording to Ruzinge, M23 leaders feel they can continue to enjoy free reign over northeastern DRC on account of the text of the agreement 'containing no withdrawal clause' and deliberately being worded in an ambiguous manner. This view was only further solidified by the M23 itself, whose delegation leader at the signing in Doha, Benjamin Mbonimpa, reiterated that the group 'will not retreat, not even by one metre'. 'We will stay where we are,' Mbonimpa said. Rebels trying to leverage political control Researcher Berckmoes believes Mbonimpa's attitude is indicative of the overall M23 position. 'I don't think M23 will let themselves be sidelined. Rather, I expect that they are looking for ways to have an important say as part of the government.' Conflict analyst Miviri agrees, pointing out that 'M23 are saying that they are not leaving.' She added that this should be taken at face value. M23 will do whatever it pleases. Reagan Miviri That view is also shared by people in North Kivu province. Complaints by civil society groups about a lack of government intervention are mounting. In the province's beleaguered capital, Goma, democracy activist Justin Murutsi told DW: 'The state has a security mandate for the population. But when there are killings like this and no word from the state, it shows that there's a serious institutional vacuum.' 'The signing of the Declaration of Principles gives us a little hope, because it clearly shows that the government has accepted the rebels' demands and conditions,' said Julien, a resident of the city who believes M23 will remain in control of large parts of the region. Scepticism seems to outweigh hope Political scientist Christian Moleka in Kinshasa wonders whether the parties the conflict are interested in peace. 'Do the various parties even have the will to achieve lasting peace?' he told DW. 'Are the follow-up mechanisms really going to work better than in the past, to support the full implementation of these various provisions?' Berckmoes had similar reservations, stressing there has been 'series of agreements in the past, which have not been upheld'. HughShe added that for a sustainable peace plan to succeed, various parties and factions all have to be included in all negotiations - not just M23 but 'all 160 groups' vying for control. To that end, Berckmoes believes 'there's still a long way to go.' Miviri took an even more sober stance: 'Before speaking of a lasting peace agreement, it just has to first happen. And I'm not seeing it happen, even now.' Amid scepticism, criticism and the surge in violence since the Doha signing, there have also been a few hopeful voices - among them, the US senior adviser for Africa, Massad Boulos. According to Congolese Interior Minister Jacquemain Shabani, significant progress has been made in recent weeks. He said he was convinced that, despite the ongoing volatile nature of the conflict, 'we are close to peace.' In the same statement, however, he stressed that 'peace is a choice,' which 'requires work'.
BBC News
11-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Why Trump wan deport migrants to Nigeria plus oda oda third world kontris - and if e do am?
Nigeria don accuse di US of pressuring African kontris to take in Venezuelan deportees. Di West African kontri minister of foreign affairs Yusuf Tuggur on Channels TV on Thursday, 10 July claim say, di US goment dey pressure Nigeria to accept 300 Venezuelan deportees into di kontri, as e suggest say di recent visa restrictions on Nigerian travellers by di US no be "reciprocal" but pressure tactic. "Di US dey mount considerable pressure on African kontris to accept Venezuelans wey dem wan deport from di US, some of dem na straight out of prison," Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar tok. Dis dey come as international media report say Oga Trump on Wednesday, 9 July ask di presidents of Liberia, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania and Gabon wey dey for US for official visits to take in illegal migrants from oda kontris. Oga Tuggar don tok say Nigeria "no go be dumping ground for Venezuelan prisoners deported from di US". "We get enough problems of our own; we no fit accept Venezuelan deportees to Nigeria. We already get 230 million pipo," e tok. Earlier dis week, di US Department of State tok say part of a "global reciprocity realignment", nearly all non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas dem dey issue to citizens of Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon and Ethiopia, go now be single-entry and valid for only three months. Why Oga Trump dey deport migrants from di US go third kontris One cornerstone of US President Donald Trump immigration policy na to remove unlawful migrants comot di kontri plus di promise of "mass deportations". And since e take office on 20 January, Oga Trump don announce plenty immigration-related executive orders, wey give way for widespread effort to crack down on undocumented migrants for di US. In more dan 21 actions, Trump don move to overhaul parts of di US immigration system, wey include how dem dey process and deport migrants from di US. According to one New York Times review of U.S. government documents, di administration don ask and dem dey plan to ask nearly sixty kontris to take deportees wey no be dia citizens. Many of these kontris, most of which be Africa, dey subject to one new full or partial travel ban to di United States, or dem dey considered for one. Reports also say Oga Trump bin ask di five African presidents, di presidents of Liberia, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania and Gabon – wey dey America for official visits – to take in illegal migrants from oda kontris. US Solicitor General John Sauer say di goment no dey fit deport violent criminal migrants go dia homelands as those kontris dey refuse to accept dem, which e say allow dem to stay for di US "victimising law-abiding Americans". Di US get right to deport migrants go third kontris? For June, US Supreme Court bin clear way for President Donald Trump administration to resume deportations of migrants to oda kontris wey no be dia own kontri. By 6-3, di justices bin reverse one lower court order wey require di govment to give migrants "meaningful opportunity" to tell officials di risks dem fit face if dem deport dem go third kontri. Di case bin involve eight migrants from Myanmar, South Sudan, Cuba, Mexico, Laos and Vietnam, wey dem deport for May on one plane wey dey go for South Sudan. Di Trump administration bin tok say dem be "di worst of di worst". Di Supreme Court bin allow Trump to end Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelan nationals, wey affect about 350,000 migrants. For anoda ruling for May, di justices say di president fit temporarily pause one humanitarian programme wey allow nearly half a million migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela to stay for di US for two years. Di Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for statement say wit dis decision, DHS go finally fit exercise dia undisputed authority to deport criminal illegal aliens–wey dia home kontri reject go third countries wey don agree to accept dem. Third kontris US dey reason to send deportees go and di once wey don accept deported migrants Nigeria Nigeria goment don confam say dem dey face pressure from US to accept deported migrants from Venezuela. Di kontri foreign minister Yusuf Tuggar wey announce dis informate tok say Nigeria get "enough problems" of dia own and no go host foreign prisoners from di US. Di minister add say Nigeria no go bow to pressure from di Trump administration to accept Venezuelan deportees from America. Liberia According to reports, Liberia fit dey consider US proposal to accept pipo wey di America deport, including criminals. Reports say Liberia wey get close historical links to America, dey part of one proposed list of kontris wey di US don appraoch. South Sudan South Sudan bin take in eight convicted deportees from di US on 5 July, but only one was South Sudanese. Di rest of dem na citizens of Myanmar, Cuba, Vietnam, Laos and Mexico. Pipo see di decision as attempt to soothe Washington sake of di punitive travel restrictions dem impose afta Juba refuse to receive South Sudanese deported from di US. Rwanda Rwanda goment and Trump administration dey discuss details about a potential agreement for Kigali to accept deportees from di U.S. wey include Africans and oda non-Rwandan nationals, BBC partner for US CBS News learn. Decisions on potential financial compensation for taking in di deportees plus oda details still dey ground according to one Rwandan official, wey confam am to CBS News. CBS News report say one US official and one Rwandan official don confam say active toks dey about sending third-country deportees from America go di east African nation. During one televised Cabinet meeting event for May, Secretary of State Marco Rubio bin say dem dey actively look for oda kontris to take in migrants expelled from di US. Na Washington Post bin first report di Rwanda arrangements, wey also cite one work by independent journalist Marisa Kabas, she bin discover one recent deportation of one Iraqi national from di US to Rwanda. Costa Rica For February, Costa Rica bin announce say dem go receive migrants from oda kontris wey di United States dey deport afta one deal wey di two kontris strike. "Di Government of Costa Rica don agree to collabo wit di United States in di repatriation of 200 illegal immigrants to dia kontri," di Costa Rican president office bin tok for statement, and add say "these pipo originate from ... Central Asia and India." Among di deportees na more dan 80 children, di Costa Rica goment bin shelter dem for di Temporary Migrant Care Centre (Catem), south of di capital, San José. Panama For February 2025, di Trump administration bin deport non-Panamanian migrants from US custody to Panama. Dem bin deport more dan 200 migrants from India, China, Uzbekistan, Iran, Vietnam, Turkey, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka go di kontri. According to one MOU wey di two kontris sign, di US goment go provide approximately $14 million give di government of Panama to deport or expel illegal migrants wey no get legal grounds to remain for dia kontri.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
US cuts visa validity for most Nigerian applicants
The United States has announced sweeping changes to its non-immigrant visa policy for Nigeria, cutting the duration and conditions under which most Nigerian travellers can enter the country. Staring 8 July, the US Department of State says nearly all non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to Nigerian citizens will now be single-entry and valid for only three months. It says this is part of a global reciprocity realignment, a sharp shift from previous visa terms, which often allowed for multiple entries over two years or more. Nigeria also offers single-entry visas valid for three months only for those planning to visit the country from the US. The Nigerian government has not yet commented. The State Department says visa policies remain "subject to ongoing review" and may change depending on evolving diplomatic, security, and immigration benchmarks. In a statement, the US government said it was working closely with Nigerian authorities to ensure the country meets key international standards. These include: issuing secure travel documents managing visa overstays sharing security or criminal data for public safety purposes The US also ordered that the social media accounts of all foreigners applying for visas, including from Nigeria, would be vetted for "any indications of hostility toward the citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles of the United States". Nigerians account for one of the highest number of student-visa applications to the US in the world. Big shake-up in Nigerian politics as heavyweights join forces Nigeria's major tax overhaul explained What is behind the wave of killings in central Nigeria? Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Focus on Africa This Is Africa
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Nigerians hit by cuts in US visa duration
The United States has announced sweeping changes to its non-immigrant visa policy for Nigeria, cutting the duration and conditions under which most Nigerian travellers can enter the 8 July, the US Department of State says nearly all non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to Nigerian citizens will now be single-entry and valid for only three says this is part of a global reciprocity realignment, a sharp shift from previous visa terms, which often allowed for multiple entries over two years or also offers single-entry visas valid for three months only for those planning to visit the country from the US. The Nigerian government has not yet State Department says visa policies remain "subject to ongoing review" and may change depending on evolving diplomatic, security, and immigration a statement, the US government said it was working closely with Nigerian authorities to ensure the country meets key international include:issuing secure travel documentsmanaging visa overstayssharing security or criminal data for public safety purposesThe US also ordered that the social media accounts of all foreigners applying for visas, including from Nigeria, would be vetted for "any indications of hostility toward the citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles of the United States".Nigerians account for one of the highest number of student-visa applications to the US in the world. More BBC stories on Nigeria: Big shake-up in Nigerian politics as heavyweights join forcesNigeria's major tax overhaul explainedWhat is behind the wave of killings in central Nigeria? Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
