LESS THAN HALF OF APPLICANTS GRANTED U.S. NON-IMMIGRANT VISAS

Armenpress
Jan 15 2007

YEREVAN, JANUARY 15, ARMENPRESS: Less than half of 9,954 Armenian
citizens who sought non-immigration visas for traveling to the United
States of America last year were granted permission. The public affairs
section of the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan told Armenpress that overall
4,324 applicants were granted visas, while 5,630 were denied it.

The public affairs section said also the number of granted visas
reduced to 43.5 percent of all applicants against 45 percent in 2005
and 49 percent in 2004. It said more than half of applicants in the
last seven years were denied visas.

The public affairs section said the number of applicants seeking
tourist visas also declined. Thus, 22, 946 applicants sought tourist
visas in 2000, while last year only 8,535 Armenians wanted to see
the USA as tourists. Also 419 people applied last year for student,
educational and other visas.