U.S. move leaves travelers in distress

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The suspension of two programs that allowed travelers without visas to pass through the United States is causing logistical nightmares for thousands of Latin American and Asian passengers who are scrambling to reroute flights or get emergency documents.

If the suspension becomes law, it could discourage passengers from using U.S. airlines, travel agents warned.

The U.S. government on Aug. 2 suspended for at least 60 days the programs that allowed foreigners to stop over in U.S. airports without visas while awaiting flights to other countries.

The Homeland Security and State departments explained that terrorist groups had been planning to exploit the programs to gain access to the United States and its airports.

But while the government’s latest action may prevent terror attacks, it creates huge headaches for thousands of passengers around the world who took advantage of the loopholes to travel through the United States while avoiding the extra hassle, and $100 fee, to obtain a U.S. visa.

“People can’t afford another $100 on top of all the other expenses,” said Rocio Valderamma of the Top Tours travel agency in Lima, Peru. “People will travel less.”

Travelers in every Central and South American country and every nation in Asia except Brunei and Singapore must now apply for a visa and pay a $100 fee for a stopover in U.S. airports.

Passengers from 27 “visa-waiver” countries — mostly in Europe — are not affected by the suspensions. Those countries include France, Germany, Britain and Italy.

About 73,000 Mexican fliers each year used the non-visa transit programs, according to the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, which received about 240 expedited visa requests in just two days last week.

Among them was a petition from a group of 125 persons headed for France.

“What a nightmare,” said Alexandra Salas, a 20-year-old secretary from Mexico City who borrowed the $100 from her parents and took time off work to pick up a visa application.

Two months ago, Miss Salas bought a ticket to Montreal with a five-hour layover in New York — a cheaper option than a direct flight. She was scheduled to leave Saturday.

“I realize there is better security now,” said Miss Salas, leaving the U.S. Embassy, where a long line of emergency and regular visa seekers snaked outside the building. “But they could have made it a little easier on us.”

As the U.S. government gathers public comments on the suspension during a 60-day period and weighs intelligence information, passengers may choose to avoid the United States, travel agents warned.

Story Continues →