Washington, March 18 (IANS) The US is expanding its visa bond programme to cover 50 countries from April 2, requiring foreign nationals seeking B1 and B2 visas for business and tourism to post a $15,000 bond, the State Department said Wednesday. The bond will be returned to visa holders who comply with the terms of their stay and leave the US on time, or if they do not travel.The move is aimed at curbing illegal overstays, which U.S. authorities say have been significantly reduced under the prog…
Latest State Department News & Updates
Washington, March 18 (IANS) The United States authorised more than $330 billion in arms exports last fiscal year, a senior State Department official said, as the Trump administration moved to overhaul a slow and complex defence sales system to speed up deliveries to allies.Stanley L. Brown, Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, told lawmakers the scale of approvals reflects strong global demand for US weapons systems.“That demand reflects the trust our allies and…
Washington, March 11 (IANS) A bipartisan group of US lawmakers has urged the Trump administration to make Tibet a priority in its foreign policy, pressing the State Department to advance dialogue on the region’s future, defend religious freedom in the Dalai Lama’s succession, and counter Chinese disinformation about Tibet.In a letter to Riley M. Barnes, the US State Department’s Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, the lawmakers said Washington should strengthen efforts to implement exi…
Washington, March 10 (IANS) More than 40,000 American citizens have safely returned to the United States from the Middle East since late February, the State Department said Tuesday, as Washington continues evacuation and travel-assistance operations across the region amid the expanding conflict with Iran.Assistant Secretary Dylan Johnson said the effort has involved dozens of charter flights and ground transport operations organized by the US government.“Over 40,000 American citizens have safe…
Washington, March 10 (IANS) The United States designated Afghanistan as a “State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention,” with Secretary of State Marco Rubio accusing the Taliban of detaining Americans and other foreign nationals to extract concessions.Announcing the move, Rubio said Washington would not tolerate what he described as hostage diplomacy by the Taliban authorities.“Today, I am designating Afghanistan as a State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention,” Rubio said.He accused the Taliban of det…
Washington, March 10 (IANS) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned recent attacks by Iran and Iran-aligned militia groups in Iraq during calls with Iraqi and German leaders, the State Department said.Rubio spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa al-Sudani and discussed the recent security situation in Iraq.“The Secretary strongly condemned terrorist attacks by Iran and Iran-aligned terrorist militia groups in Iraq, including in the Iraq Kurdistan Region,” the State Department sai…
Washington, March 7 (IANS) More than 28,000 American citizens have safely returned to the US from the Middle East since late February, the State Department said on Saturday, as Washington continues large-scale evacuation and assistance efforts across the region. In a statement, Assistant Secretary of State Dylan Johnson said the US government had been coordinating flights, ground transport, and emergency assistance to help Americans leave the region amid ongoing security concerns.”Since February…
Washington, March 6 (IANS) The United States is strengthening its public diplomacy efforts to counter propaganda and influence campaigns from countries such as Iran and China while explaining Washington’s foreign policy to global audiences, Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers told lawmakers during a congressional hearing.Testifying before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Thursday, Rogers said public diplomacy remains a key instrument of US national security, partic…
Washington, March 5 (IANS) The United States has begun charter flights to evacuate American citizens from the Middle East, as Washington ramps up efforts to help thousands return home amid rising tensions in the region.A Department of State charter flight carrying American citizens departed the Middle East for the United States on Wednesday as part of the ongoing evacuation effort.“Today, a Department of State charter flight of American citizens departed the Middle East en route to the United …
Washington, March 3 (IANS) The United States urged Americans to leave major parts of the Middle East immediately, warning of “serious safety risks” as tensions escalate across the region.“To all American citizens in the Middle East: your safety and security is our number one priority,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a video message.Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar said the State Department “urges Americans to DEPART NOW from the countries below using availab…