Banjul,The Gambia Journal
A press release issued by he U.S. Embassy in Banjul on Tuesday 5th August stated that it is pleased to announce that Gambians will now be eligible for longer validity visas. The U.S. State Department, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, will now issue B1/B2 tourist visas valid for up to five years at a time, more than double the previous term of only two years, the release noted.
The release however went on to explain that “visa length” is different from the length of stay granted to visitors. “The length of stay granted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to travelers will remain the same, despite the change in visa length,” the release stated. Most travelers, it went on, are granted up to six months in the United States, although the understanding is that most travelers will depart the United States within a few weeks of arrival as they originally stated in their visa applications.
The increase will allow qualified applicants to travel to the United States without having to renew their visas as frequently. This will reduce the costs to Gambian travelers, as they will have to pay fewer visa application fees and will save time interviewing at the Embassy. It will also reduce the workload for U.S. Embassy staff, allowing them to devote more time to first-time applicants.
On a similar note, American citizens will now be eligible for five-year validity tourist visas to The Gambia, which should help the tourism sector.
