In a recent State Department briefing on U.S. Visas, officials discussed the growing visa demand in China and Brazil and steps the Department was taking to stay apace.
Overall consulates issued more than 7.5 million visas application to the U.S. from around the world, representing a 17 percent increase over Fiscal year 2010. China and Brazil showed the most growing demand for these visas.
The State Department’s goal is to expand their capacity to adjudicate more than 2.2 million visas in China and 1.8 million visas in Brazil by 2013.
In the fiscal year that just ended 820,000 U.S. visas were processed in Brazil, an increase of 42 percent from last year. By 2013 the U.S. government is looking to process 1.8 million visa requests.
State officials explained the growth in these terms: “[Brazil’s] currency is very strong against the dollar and Brazilians are coming to America to visit Disney World and do lots of shopping and see lots of part of America now.”
