Lieutenant Governor Schatz’s Statement on President Obama’s Executive Order
Lieutenant Governor Schatz’s Statement on President Obama’s Executive Order Establishing Visa and Foreign Visitor Processing Goals and the Task Force on Travel and Competitiveness
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 19, 2012
HONOLULU – President Obama signed an Executive Order charging the Departments of State and Homeland Security with increasing non-immigrant visa processing capacity in China and Brazil by 40 percent this year; ensuring that 80 percent of non-immigrant visa applicants are interviewed in three weeks or less; and increasing efforts to expand the Visa Waiver Program. The President announced the State Department has nominated Taiwan for inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program.
Assigned by Governor Abercrombie to lead Asia Pacific strategy and development, Lieutenant Governor Brian Schatz released the following statement regarding the Order:
"These are precisely the kinds of actions that we pushed for during APEC in November, and we're thrilled that the President, the State Department, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of Homeland Security are moving quickly. Alleviating wait times will be tremendously helpful as we attempt to build a stronger China-Hawai`i tourism relationship. A visa waiver program in Taiwan is great news and we can anticipate increased visitors to Hawai`i and economic opportunities in the region."
"The potential for Hawaii's economy is tremendous here, we just need to make it easier for people to visit, and President Obama took the most important first step today. The people of Hawai`i are thankful to have a President who understands the role of travel and tourism in a strong economy."
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For more information, contact: Malia Paul, Deputy Chief of Staff, (808) 586-0274
To view the full Executive Order, visit:
