LESS THAN HALF OF APPLICANTS GRANTED U.S. NON-IMMIGRANT VISAS

 
YEREVAN, JANUARY 15, ARMENPRESS: Less than half of 9,954 Armenian citizens who sought non-immigration visas for traveling to the United States of America last year were granted permission. The public affairs section of the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan told Armenpress that overall 4,324 applicants were granted visas, while 5,630 were denied it.
The public affairs section said also the number of granted visas reduced to 43.5 percent of all applicants against 45 percent in 2005 and 49 percent in 2004. It said more than half of applicants in the last seven years were denied visas.
The public affairs section said the number of applicants seeking tourist visas also declined. Thus, 22, 946 applicants sought tourist visas in 2000, while last year only 8,535 Armenians wanted to see the USA as tourists. Also 419 people applied last year for student, educational and other visas.