|
U.S. Ambassador Tony Garza today applauded the announcement by the Department of Homeland Security to allow laser visa holders up to 30 days in the U.S. border region without an I-94. “This decision, to expand the time allowed in the U.S. for Mexicans with laser visas, is good news to the thousands of Mexicans who regularly cross the border to conduct business, shop, or visit with family.”
Most Mexican citizens who travel to and from the United States regularly apply for a laser visa, also know as a”B1/B2 Visa/BCC,” which can be used as either a border crossing card or a non-immigrant visa.
The U.S. Government has decided to expand the time allowed on border crossing cards (BCCs) used by Mexicans to enter the U.S. for temporary visits. Current rules limit the visits to a maximum of 72 hours within the border zone of 25 miles along the border in Texas, New Mexico, and California and 75 miles of the border in Arizona. In order to travel in the U.S. for longer periods or outside of the border zone, a cardholder must obtain an I-94 form (Record of Entry/Departure).
The new rule will extend the time limit for visitors from 72 hours to 30 days; an I-94 will not be required for stays up to 30 days. The distance restriction will remain the same. As a result of this change, only laser visa holders applying for entry of more than 30 days or travel outside of the border zone will have to obtain an I-94.
As previously announced, the USVISIT program to be implemented later this year at the 50 busies land ports of entry, will apply only to those laser visa holders who must obtain an I-94.
Last year, approximately 6.8 million Mexican nationals made approximately 104 million crossings using the BCC card component of the laser visa.
This decision was closely coordinated between Secretary for Homeland Security Tom Ridge and Mexican Secretary of Government Santiago Creel, as part of the on-going cooperation and dialog between the two governments on making the shared border both more safe and more efficient.
* * * * *
|
