Latest news with #visa
The Independent
13 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
Sri Lanka visas to be made free for UK tourists
Sri Lanka has announced plans to waive visa fees for British travellers in a bid to boost tourism. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath reportedly confirmed that tourists from 33 new countries, including the UK, will be able to visit the island without paying visa fees at the Hotel Show Colombo 2025 on Friday (25 July). Travellers from the US, Germany, the United Arab Emirates and Australia will also be able to enter without paying visa fees, reported Travel + Leisure Asia. Mr Herath added that Sri Lanka 's government face an annual loss of up to £50m by waiving the visa fees. However, the minister expected higher tourist footfall from the free visas to make up for the loss in economic gains. According to a government press release, Mr Herath said that Sri Lanka's tourism industry is 'steadily progressing day by day', with the tourism sector expected to become a 'key contributor' to strengthening the national economy. He said: 'We have stabilised the economy, and through policy changes in tourism, we aim to ensure steady growth in arrivals.' Travellers from seven countries – China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Thailand, Malaysia and Japan – have had a visa fee waiver to enter the South Asian country since September 2024, following a trial phase in 2023. British passport holders currently have to apply for a 30-day tourist visa with a $50 (£37.50) fee to visit Sri Lanka. According to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), Sri Lanka welcomed 2,053,465 tourists in 2024. Of these, the island hosted the most Indian, Russian and British travellers. The start date for free visa entry is unknown; however, it is expected that eligible travellers will still need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) in advance, free of charge. The Independent has contacted Sri Lanka's Ministry of Tourism and the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority for comment.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
False update about China travel policy for Pakistanis spreads online
China's foreign affairs ministry has not removed Pakistan from its list of visa-free countries during an update in June 2025, contrary to rumours swirling online. A review of an earlier list before the recent update found visitors from the South Asian nation had always required visas to enter China. "China has removed Pakistan from the list of visa-free countries," reads a post on X published on July 14, 2025. The post carries a graphic of Chinese President Xi Jinping holding a list of countries titled "Visa-Free Countries". Text on the graphic says: "China just announced 'visa-free entry for 74 countries' but 'Pakistan didn't make the list." It also shares a link to a website. Similar posts also surfaced on Threads and Facebook. A keyword search on Google found the latest lists published in July detailing visa exemptions granted by China to foreign citizens holding valid ordinary passports visiting for business, tourism, family or friends visits, exchange and transit (archived here and here). Compared with a previous list on May 22, the only change is to grant visa-free access to four more countries announced on June 9. No countries have been removed, and Pakistan has not been on the earlier lists (archived link). It is also not covered in China's 240-hour visa-free transit policy, according to the National Immigration Agency (archived link). Visa-free access to China is only given to Pakistani citizens holding diplomatic or official passports (archived link). "I confirm that we were not on the list so no question of removal," Foreign Ministry spokesman Shafqat Ali Khan told AFP on July 28, 2025. China is Pakistan's largest arms supplier and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar confirmed that Islamabad used Chinese jets in the conflict with India in May (archived link).
Khaleej Times
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
US tightens visa interview waiver rules from September 2 in new update
The US Department of State has tightened the visa interview waiver rules in a new update on July 25. The visa interview waiver programme allows some applicants to submit a visa application by mail instead of being interviewed at the Embassy. This will be easily determined while you are registering to apply for your visa online — the website will ask tthe applicant some questions and then may or may not direct them to the visa appointment page, depending on their eligibility. The new programme update will overrule the one issued in February, which means that all those applying for a US non-immigration visa will have to keep these new regulations in mind. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. What's new? From September 2, all nonimmigrant visa applicants, including applicants under the age of 14 and over the age of 79, will generally require an in-person interview with a consular officer, the authority said. Earlier, applicants of broader categories were eligible for the interview waiver programme. Exemptions, who's still eligible? There are some exceptions to this update, which means that the people applying for visas in the categories listed below may be eligible for the visa interview waiver programme. They are: 1. Diplomats and Foreign Government Officials Applicants classifiable under the visa symbols A-1, A-2, C-3 (except attendants, servants, or personal employees of accredited officials), G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1 through NATO-6, or TECRO E-1, applicants for diplomatic- or official-type visas; and 2. Renewing a B-1, B-2 visa or a Border Crossing Card Applicants renewing a full validity B-1, B-2, B1/B2 visa or a Border Crossing Card/Foil (for Mexican nationals) within 12 months of the prior visa's expiration, and who were at least 18 years old at the time of the prior visa's issuance. To be eligible for a waiver based on this, applicants should apply in their country of nationality or residence; should have never been refused a visa (unless such refusal was overcome or waived); and have no apparent or potential ineligibility. Consular officers can also ask for an interview on a case-by-case basis for any reason.
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
US moves to lift visa restrictions for Argentina in a boost to right-wing ally
The United States and Argentina on Monday announced that they are working on a plan to allow Argentine tourists to again travel to the US without a visa. It is likely to take two to three years before visa-free travel becomes a reality for Argentine passport holders, but the Trump administration's move to kick-start the process marked a show of support for President Javier Milei, its staunchest ally in South America and a darling of conservatives around the world. The gesture coincided with a visit by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to Buenos Aires, the Argentine capital, for closed-door meetings with Milei and his officials. Noem signed the statement of intent alongside Security Minister Patricia Bullrich in Milei's office. Noem, on horseback at the country's sprawling Campo De Mayo army base and donning a cowboy hat and jeans, told reporters that the Trump administration would put Argentina on an 'expedited path' to enrolment in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Still, she cautioned that securing approval within the next year 'would be very difficult,' according to a White House pool report. The Department of Homeland Security praised Milei for reshaping Argentina's foreign policy in line with the US.
BBC News
a day ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Birth tourism: US go deny visa to foreign nationals wey wan go America to born for citizenship
Di United States Mission for Nigeria don announce say dem go deny di visa application of foreign nationals wey dem suspect say wan travel go America to go born, just so dat dia child go get U.S. citizenship. Di embassy wey give di informate for one statement on dia X account on Monday, 28 July tok say, "we go deny your visa if we believe say di primary purpose of travel na to give birth for di United States to get U.S. citizenship for your pikin." For di statement, di embassy say dem no go permit anyone to travel go America for di purpose of "birth tourism." "Consular officers go deny your visa application if dem get reason to believe say dat na your intention," dem add. Dis advisory dey come afta one Supreme Court ruling for June wey allow US President Donald Trump to go ahead wit im executive order of ending birthright citizenship. Di Supreme Court ruling bin limit di power of federal judges to block presidential orders and allow for di birthright citizenship policy to start in 30 days. Although, some lower courts don file counter lawsuits against di ruling. However, wit dis statement from di US embassy, e be like say Oga Trump administration dey fall-in-line wit di executive order to deny citizenship to children of immigrants wey dey US illegally or children wey dem born for there on temporary visa, as no be only di US embassy for Nigeria issue di statement. For one of im first acts as di 47th president of di United States, Donald Trump bin sign one executive order wey di purpose na ending automatic citizenship rights for nearly everybody born on US territory - known as "birthright citizenship". Na one policy wey for long e promise to change - but to implement am no go dey easy. For nearly 160 years, di 14th Amendment of di US Constitution establish one principle say anybody dem born for di kontri go automatically become US citizen. However, within hours of President Trump order, Democratic-run states and cities, civil rights groups and individuals bin launch various lawsuits against am. Dem argue say di order go against di 14th Amendment to di US Constitution, wey establish say "all pesins born or naturalized in di United States, and subject to di jurisdiction thereof, na citizens of di United States and of di state wia dem reside". However, di Trump administration say di clause "subject to di jurisdiction thereof" mean say di amendment exclude children of pipo wey no dey live for di kontri permanently or lawfully. Three federal judges bin rule against Trump, as dem issue nationwide injunctions to block di orders from taking effect. Most legal scholars agree say President Trump no fit end birthright citizenship wit an executive order. Wetin Supreme Court tok on di birthright citizenship case and wia di mata dey now In a win for President Trump, on 27 June, di Supreme Court rule against nationwide injunctions. Di case bin surround weda Trump attempt to use executive order to end birthright citizenship for non-citizens and undocumented migrants dey allowed. For one 6-3 ruling for June, di Supreme Court conservative justices bin side Trump and say dem no dey address Oga Trump attempt to end birthright citizenship. Rather, dia ruling dey address presidential actions broadly. For di majority opinion wey conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett deliver, di court say: "Universal injunctions likely exceed di equitable authority wey Congress give to federal courts." Sake of di ruling to limit injunctions, Trump birthright citizenship order go fit take effect 30 days afta dem file di court opinion, di court tok. E go apply to di 28 states wey no participate for di lawsuit. Di Supreme Court dey expected to rule on di merits of di birthright citizenship order itself at some date in di future. Justice Sonia Sotomayor bin write say birthright citizenship na di "law of di land" and di order dey "patently unconstitutional". Embassies wey don issue similar statements wey ban birth tourism No be only Nigerians di US govment cut warning against birth tourism for. Uganda, Jamaica, di Caribbeans, among odas follow for di warning. For 1 July, di US embassy for Uganda warn Ugandans wey dey travel go US just to go born so dat dia pikin go be citizen, say e no dey allowed. Di govment say many Ugandan parents dey travel wit tourist visas go America for di purpose of giving birth, and dem dey use govment assistance to pay for dia medical care. "Na American taxpayer dey bear dis cost, and those parents fit no dey eligible to renew dia visas for future. US embassy for Colombo also issue similar statement to Sri Lankan nationals and foreign travellers, wey advise dem against using tourist visas for di purpose of giving birth di United States to secure U.S. citizenship for dia pikin. Wetin be 'birthright citizenship'? Di first sentence of di 14th Amendment to di US Constitution bin establish di principle of birthright citizenship: "All pesins born or naturalized for di United States, and subject to di jurisdiction thereof, na citizens of di United States and of di state wia dem reside." Immigration hardliners argue say di policy na "great magnet for illegal immigration" and say e dey encourage pregnant women to cross di border in order to born and remain for di US, an act wey dem commonly refer to as "birth tourism" or having "anchor baby". Supporters of birthright citizenship point out say dat na di law of di land for ova a century and to cancel am go create a "permanent subclass of pipo wey dem born for US wey dey denied full rights as Americans." Birthright citizenship worldwide Birthright citizenship, or jus soli (right of the soil), no be di norm globally. US na one of about 30 kontris - mostly for di Americas - wey dey grant automatic citizenship to any child dem born within dia borders. In contrast, many countries for Asia, Europe, and parts of Africa dey follow di jus sanguinis (right of blood) principle, wia children inherit dia nationality from dia parents, regardless of dia birthplace. Oda countries get combination of both principles, dem also dey grant citizenship to children of permanent residents.
