MM

May 4, 2011

U.S. Embassy Tbilisi Announces Extended Visa Validity for Georgian Citizens Ambassador John Bass and Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze announced today that the United States has extended visa validity for Georgian citizens. Because of the visa-free regime enjoyed by U.S. citizens visiting and residing in Georgia, the Department of State will extend the maximum visa validity in multiple categories. The visa validity for tourist and business visas (B1/B2) and crewmember/transit visas (C1/D) will increase from the current 12 months, multiple entry to 120 months, multiple entry. The maximum visa validity in other affected categories, A, F, G, H, J, L, M, O, P, Q, and R will increase from the current 12 months multiple entry to 60 months multiple entry and in the B, C and D categories from the current 12 months to 120 months, multiple entry. Please visit www.travel.state.gov/visa for more information about these non-immigrant visa categories. Increasing the maximum visa validity for Georgian citizens in the above categories will further facilitate travel, enhance trade and tourism, and increase educational and cultural exchanges between the United States and Georgia. This visa validity increase will allow qualified applicants to travel to the United States without having to reapply for new visas every year. For additional information on non-immigrant visas, please visit our web site at http://georgia.usembassy.gov/visas.html .