Estados Unidos podría exigir fianzas de hasta 15.000 dólares para algunos visados de turista y de negocios en el marco de un programa piloto que se pondrá en marcha dentro de dos semanas, según un anuncio del gobierno, un esfuerzo que pretende tomar medidas enérgicas contra los visitantes que se quedan más tiempo del permitido en sus visados.

New York

The United States government is launching a pilot program that will allow consular officers to require bonds of up to $15,000 from some applicants for tourist and business visas. The initiative is aimed at reducing visa overstays and will primarily affect travelers from countries with high overstay rates or inadequate screening processes. The bonds will be refunded if visitors comply with the terms of their visas.

Industry representatives and travelers have voiced concerns that the policy could deter legitimate visitors and negatively impact the U.S. travel sector. The program is set to last about a year, coinciding with the introduction of a separate $250 visa integrity fee for non-immigrant visas, further raising the cost of visiting the United States.

EE.UU. podría exigir fianzas de hasta 15.000 dólares para algunos visados de turista

Los EE.UU. podría exigir bonos de hasta $ 15.000 para algunos visados de turista y de negocios bajo un programa piloto que se pondrá en marcha en dos semanas. La medida forma parte de un esfuerzo de la administración Trump para tomar medidas enérgicas contra los visitantes que se quedan más tiempo del permitido en sus visados. Un aviso del gobierno emitido el lunes dijo que los fondos serán devueltos a los viajeros si ellos salen de acuerdo con los términos de sus visados. Ghulam Asghar, que está de visita en Nueva York procedente del Reino Unido, no es partidario de la nueva política. Creo que será un poco injusto con los visitantes porque es mucho dinero para ellos. Porque normalmente creo que cuando vienes aquí, gastas, si estás aquí 10, 15 días, te gastarás unos 4.000 o 5.000 dólares. Pero si encima son otros 15.000 dólares, es mucho. El programa da a los funcionarios consulares de EE.UU. la discreción de imponer fianzas a los visitantes de países con altos índices de rebasamiento de visados, según un anuncio del registro federal. También dice que los bonos podrían aplicarse a las personas procedentes de países en los que el control e investigación de antecedentes se consideren insuficientes. Jeff Freeman, que dirige la Asociación de Viajes de EE.UU., dice que le preocupa que la política sirva para como un elemento disuasorio para las personas que consideran visitar los EE.UU. No me preocupa mantener fuera al viajero que se quedaría más tiempo del permitido por su visado. Me preocupa mantener fuera a los millones de personas que quieren venir a Estados Unidos, gastar su dinero, y volver a casa y decirle a sus amigos y familiares que hagan lo mismo. Si perdemos a esos viajeros, si esos viajeros eligen ir a otros mercados, nuestros viajes crecerá, nuestras pequeñas empresas sufrirán y la economía estadounidense se resentirá. Las políticas migratorias del presidente Donald Trump han llevado a algunos visitantes a no viajar al Estados Unidos. Las tarifas aéreas transatlánticas cayeron a precios que no se habían visto antes de la pandemia de COVID-19 en mayo. Y los viajes desde Canadá y México a EE.UU. cayeron un 20% interanual. El nuevo programa de visados entrará en vigor a finales de este mes y durará aproximadamente un año. El sector de los viajes ya está lidiando con una disposición de un amplio paquete de gastos aprobado en julio por el Congreso de EE.UU., controlado por los republicanos. Creó una tasa de integridad de visado de 250 dólares para cualquier persona aprobada para un visado de no inmigrante que podría ser potencialmente reembolsable para aquellos que cumplan con las normas de visado. Creemos que esta tasa podría tener un efecto disuasorio sustancial sobre las personas que decidan venir a la Estados Unidos. Clasifica a los Estados Unidos como el segundo país más caro del mundo para conseguir desde el punto de vista de las tasas. Eso es antes de entrar en el país que tiene un dólar fuerte y ya se cita por sus altos costos como una razón para no venir a los Estados Unidos. La tasa de 250 dólares entra en vigor el 1 de octubre.

Hamas on Monday informed mediators that it had accepted a ceasefire deal proposal submitted to it the day before, according to international and Israeli outlets.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Reports: Hamas accepts latest Gaza ceasefire proposal

Hurricane Erin will bring dangerously rough surf to parts of the U.S. East Coast. Over the weekend, Erin's outer bands lashed Puerto Rico with up to 7 inches of rain and flooding parts of the island.

East Coast of the United States

Erin expected to bring dangerous conditions to U.S. East Coast

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will be joined by several European leaders at a White House meeting with President Donald Trump on Monday (August 18) aimed at brokering a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.

Washington

Ukraine Invasion

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Kyiv

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Paris

European leaders stress unity with Ukraine ahead of peace talks

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Tel Aviv-Yafo

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Anchorage

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Being a Category 1 hurricane, Erin underwent a 'rapid intensification' which helped the storm to grow and strengthen to a powerful Category 5. Hurricane Erin won't make a direct hit on the U.S., but it will produce dangerous surf conditions for the entire East Coast.

San Juan

Hurricane Erin 'rapidly intensifies' to a Category 5

The Washington, D.C., police chief will remain in command of the local force following a settlement with the Trump administration over the federal takeover, but they are required to cooperate with the White House's immigration policy.

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The Atlantic Ocean's first hurricane of the season, Erin, has continued to gain strength and currently sits off the coast of Anguilla.

Hurricane Erin strengthens in the Atlantic

President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met on Friday in Alaska to discuss the war in Ukraine. The leaders did not announce a peace deal, but Trump is set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday.

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Israel's far-right finance minister approved the construction of a controversial new settlement in the West Bank, saying it "finally buries the idea of a Palestinian state." But it's unclear if this move will actually go through. Rights groups swiftly condemned the plan.

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London

Zelenskyy, Starmer meet ahead of Trump, Putin summit in Alaska

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Breakdown