The American Consul, James Carr, reported to significant increase in the number of Israelis asking for entry visas to the U.S. this year compared with the same period in 1979. According to travel agency sources however, there has been a substantial increase in the purchase of one-way tickets to the U.S. by Israelis who do not possess immigration visas.
Carr explained that persons seeking tourist visas are required to produce evidence of a permanent job in Israel, property and bank accounts and relatives in this country. He admitted that there are many ways to circumvent that procedure. The El Al offices report that many Israelis who bought a return ticket on a charter flight or an “Apex” round trip, which costs only slightly more than a full fare one way ticket, have failed to use the return portion on the designated date and thus forfeited their right to fly home at the reduced rate.
Many apparently are remaining in the U.S. According to Carr, there was a 27 percent increase in visa applications by Israelis last January, compared with January in the preceding year. But a slump in applications began in February and continued through May, bringing the total number of applications almost on a level with last year. In 1979, the U.S. Consul issued 1782 visas. This year’s quota is 2000.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
