Existing Uruguayan visas of the so-called “first-class passenger” category, which were invalidated on Sept. 30 will shortly be revalidate, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency learns. The new ruling will alleviate the hardship caused many refugees who were in transit at the time the visas were cancelled.
In the future all applications for immigration permits filed here on behalf of relatives abroad must be cleared through the Ministry of the Interior. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs, which also used to issue visas, especially those of the “first-class” category, will no longer do so, and this entire category has been abolished. The new procedure follows an investigation into alleged irregularities in the issuance of this type of visa.
At present, therefore, a qualified resident wishing to bring relatives into Uruguay must file an application with the Immigration Department of the Interior Ministry together with evidence that he has resided here for at least two years and an affidavit from the prospective immigrant proving his relationship to the resident. The application must be accompanied by 600 pesos, which will be returned to the immigrant after entrance at the rate of 50 pesos monthly.
There are no provisions for the immigration of non-relatives of residents, but the government is presently studying the entire question of immigration and a new decree is expected to be drafted which will enable such immigration. The entire matter, however, is still in the discussion stage.
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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.
