04/04/2024

Spending Bill Includes Funding to Reduce Visitor Visa Wait Times

There are outrageously long visitor visa wait times in many markets

The business events industry scored a win in the fiscal year 2024 government funding package that Congress cleared late last month, with the inclusion of supplemental funding for the State Department to reduce visitor visa wait times.

Travel industry leaders have pointed to outrageously long visitor visa wait times in many markets.

The legislation signed by President Joe Biden to fund the government through September provides the State Department with $50 million in dedicated funds to reduce visa wait times and passport backlogs. The passage was hailed by groups such as U.S. Travel Association (USTA) and the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA).

"International exhibitors and attendees face significant financial outlays months in advance of participating in conferences and trade shows," said Hervé Sedky, Emerald Holding Inc. president and chief executive officer and chair of the ECA board of directors. "Securing this funding marks an important step in reopening our doors and bringing all of our international stakeholders back to business events in the U.S., which play a vital role in driving domestic economic growth, fostering job creation and empowering U.S. small businesses every day."

This article was provided to OSAP by ASAE's Power of Associations and Inroads.