Quick U.S. visas for celebrities

WASHINGTON, MAY 31. The U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) is launching a new visa programme allowing foreign celebrities, athletes, executives and other specific types of workers to pay $1000 to get work visa applications processed within 15 days instead of waiting the usual three months or more.

INS officials told The Washington Post the `Premium processing programme', to be launched tomorrow will generate $80 million a year and allow the agency to hire hundreds of extra workers to help all visa applicants. However, many immigration experts, including Mr. Mark Krikorian, Executive Director, Center for Immigration Studies, a Washington-based think-tank, said the programme will create a disturbing two-tiered system by giving special access to wealthy foreigners and large corporations.

Critics also said that by focusing resources on those applicants, the INS may end up imposing even longer waits on petitioners of more modest means.

- PTI

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : Haider under fire for remarks on Jehadi outifts