I want to be in America: despondency in Hong Kong fuelling rush for US visas, say immigration experts
Poor career prospects in the city and rising social tensions make the move an appealing prospect for growing numbers
Poor jobs prospects and rising social tensions in Hong Kong have fuelled a steep increase in visa applications to the US, say immigration experts.
The US consulate announced last week that it had streamlined its visa issuance process to handle a surge in demand and was allowing those renewing non-permanent visas to skip the interview process.
This was prompted by a 15 to 20 per cent rise in applications for US visas over the past year – up to 100,000 from 80,000 to 90,000 in the previous year. The number increased by 10 per cent the year before that.
“There’s an increasing demand in going to the US ... from Hong Kong,” the consulate’s non-immigrant visas chief, Alex Ave-Lallemant, said. “We anticipate a further increase in demand and are trying to be as proactive as possible.”
The move applies to applicants renewing their business, tourist or student visas to the United States and should cut queues by about 30 per cent.
The US is a popular destination for students – in 2014, 8,000 Hongkongers went to there to study.