23:50, 5 May 2011

US increases maximum term of visas for Georgians to 10 years

The US government has increased the maximum term of visas for certain categories of Georgian citizens to 5 and 10 years. Earlier, the maximum term for all citizens was one year.

In particular, the term of 10 years is introduced for tourist and business visas, as well as for multiple transit visas.

For 11 categories of Georgian citizens the visa validity is increased from one to five years, among them - visas for students, scientists and religious figures.

The decision was made within the framework of the Charter of US-Georgia Strategic Partnership at the sitting of the Working Group on Public Relations held in Washington. The decision is already in force, the RIA "Novosti" reports.

The "Georgia-Online" writes that the extension of visa validity terms was discussed at a meeting between the Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze and the US Ambassador to Georgia John Bass.

According to Ambassador Bass, the decision will promote tourism and trade between the two countries, and expand educational and cultural programmes.

For US citizens Georgia has visa-free regime for the term of up to 360 days.