State. more than any other agency. has spread the impact of the shutdown around the world. Among those who have felt it are students who planned to start classes this month in foreign universities. vacationers who had firm travel plans and nonrefundable tickets. and people with job offers from employers overseas. "We had an 84yearold woman who wanted a passport to go to Rome because her bishop was being elevated to cardinal" in the Roman Catholic church. a State Department consular official said. "We had to say no because it wasnt an emergency." In many foreign countries. according to Moose and other officials. local laws do not permit the furloughing of local employees. As a result. "we have to let them come to work. but we cant pay them." Worse than that. other officials said. is the fact that visa applicants can see all these furloughproof local employees at their desks. but are unable to obtain any service because the workers are not permitted to do anything. "All this Is unprecedented. We hope for a solution soon. Otherwise things will just get worse and worse." said Pamela Harriman. U.S. ambassador to France. State Department and Office of Management and Budget officials said the cutoff of visas and passports has cut into airline revenue at a peak travel season because tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of prospective travelers had to stay home. Airline industry spokesmen. however. said they have so far noticed little impact. Some of the impact of the shutdown is more embarrassing than substantive.
Keywords matched
visa visas