Speech #940086710

The imposition of these timeconsuming entry requirements discourages tourism to the United States. imposes an unnecessary and increasingly expensive workload on our consulate staffs abroad. and gives foreign visitors the impression that this Nation is greeting them grudgingly rather than graciously. At this critical point in our Nations history. it is most urgent that the Visit U.S.A. Bicentennial Anniversary Act become law thereby increasing foreign travel to this country. improving our foreign relations through promoting a better understanding of America throughout the world. improving our balance of payments and strengthening. the dollar. reducing the manpower requirements at foreign service posts in designated countries. facilitating the Immigration and Naturalization Services implementation of immigration preclearance. and most importantly. allowing us t o treat travel-. ers from abroad more efficiently and hospitably . . . .. The bill before. us would empower the Attorney General and the Secretary Of State to exempt. during calendar year 1976. nationals of foreign countries designated by the Secretary of State on the basis of reciprocity from the requirement to have a visa prior to entry into the United States while. at the same time. maintaining the existing statutory exJune 19. :1975i emption for nationals of foreign contiguous territory or of adjacent islands and residents thereof having a common nationality With such nationals. To prevent abuse of the foreign visitor provisions. this bill specifies that: First. entry authorized by the act may not be for more than 90 days nor may such authorization be renewed or extended. and second. the status of the visitor may not be adjusted to that of an immigrant during his visit. It is clearly contemplated that implementing regulations would further specify that such a visitor would also be required to possess a valid passport good for a period of at least 6 months beyond the term of his visit. and the Immigration and Naturalization Service could require additional precautions. such as requiring nonrefundable roundtrip tickets and a certification by each visitor that he or she is not ineligible for admission under the provisions of section 212(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act or other applicable provisions of the law. In short. the bill would greatly facilitate the entry of foreign visitors into the United States without lessening the Security of our great Nation. Elimination of the unnecessary and cumbersome barriers to the entry of for-. eign visitors to the United States Is long overdue. and I urge that prompt and favorable consideration be given to this act to assure that such barriers to foreign visitors do not exist during our Nations celebration of its Bicentennial anniversary.