Mr. Speaker. this provision of the Helsinki accords states: In order to promote further development of conacts on the basis of family ties the participating States will favorably consider applications for travel with the purpose of allowing persons to enter or leave their territory temporarily. and on a regular basis if desired. in order to visit members of their families. Applications for temporary visits to meet members of their families will be dealt with without distinction as to the country of origin or destination: existing requirements of travel documents and visas will be applied in this spirit. The preparation and issue of such documents and visas will be effected within reasonable time limits: cases of urgent necessitysuch as serious illness or deathwill be given priority treatment. They will take such steps as may be necessary to ensure that the fees for official travel documents and visas are acceptable. They confirm that the presentation of an application concerning contacts on the basis of family ties will not modify the rights and obligations of the applicant or of members of his family. Despite this clear language. the Soviet Union is denying visas to those seeking to visit with their families in the Soviet Union. I. as well as many of my colleagues. have constituents who legally emigrated from the Soviet Union. Today when they seek to return to the U.S.S.R. to visit family and friends. their visa applications are denied without any justification. It is important that we in Congress speak out against this Soviet violation of the Helsinki accords. Earlier this year.
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visas emigrated visa