The number of Israelis being denied tourist visas by the United States has risen sharply in the past few years. Israeli officials say they suspect this has to do with US reluctance to enable Israel to join the Visa Waiver Program, under which foreign nationals are eligible for visa-free entry into the United States for 90 days as tourists. Currently, citizens of 37 states, most of them considered economically developed countries, are eligible under this program.
One of the criteria for qualifying for the Visa Waiver Program is a non-immigrant visa refusal rate of less than 3% for the previous year.
But according to State Department data, in 2013, 9.7% of Israelis – some 12,000 people – who applied for tourist visas were refused. The previous year, in 2012, only 5.4% of the requests were denied and in 2007 – only 2.5%.
“We have for years been waiting to drop below the 3% mark in order to obtain visa exemptions, but they keep raising the bar,” a senior official told i24news. “In our view, this is being done artificially, with requests being denied for no good reason. In all other respects, we qualify for the program.”
Israel has, however, been reluctant to challenge the United States openly on the issue so as not to exacerbate diplomatic tensions.
There was no immediate reaction to the claims by the US embassy in Tel Aviv.
Read more at I24 NEWS.
{Matzav.com Newscenter}
On the contrary the door for our moslem brothers has been greatly opened.
I’m shocked, shocked, that this occurred in the first year of Obama’s second term.
Now that Obama doesn’t have to worry about re-election anymore, his true colors are showing more and more.
That’s ok. Just come here illegally and Obama will make you a hero.
Stay in israel
hostility TO Israel from the US State Department? News? Seriously?
Hopefully this hiccup be raised by individual Jews and groups. Congress is up for election can be pressured to influence the President to correct this obvious discrimination.