Friday, December 10, 2004

Chinese tourists in the US Xinhua has a story about a new agreement between China and the US that allows Chinese tour groups to visit the US. A similar agreement was signed with most European countries earlier this year. Until now it was very difficult to visit the US for Chinese. They were treated like dirt when applying for a visa at the American embassy or consulate. Waiting in line for hours in the soaring heat (at least in summer), not being allowed to talk, eat or drink, and guards that probably would fit well in a prison camp. Most people get a 30 second interview after which they are told that they get or don't get (most of them) a visa. Of course no reason for a rejection was given. I wonder how this is going to change with the new visa regulations. The consulate in Shanghai is now already overworked, people have to wait for weeks to get an 'appointment' for a visa application. The US is hurting itself with this. Not only dislike more and more Chinese the US because of the visa application situation, but also it is hurting business. Business travellers cannot go to meetings or conferences because they were not able to get a visa on time. Last month half of the Chinese participants of a conference in Las Vegas did not get a visa, whereupon the rest of the participants decided not to come either. 2:43:16 PM    comment []