Entry and Visa Systems Reform

 

 

As part of its advocacy efforts, BUSBC is a part of the Discover America Partnership (DAP) working with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Travel Association and other business associations and companies to engage the U.S. Congress and administration on entry and visa systems reform.

 

 

BUSBC key policy reform goals include the following:

 

 

BUSBC supports the implementation of a trusted traveler Global Entry Pilot (GEP) program between the United States and Brazil to allow for expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. On January 2012, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) proposed the establishment of GEP to its Brazilian counterpart and on their April 9, 2012, joint statement President Barack Obama and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff affirmed that they “discussed the ‘Global Entry’ pilot-program and praised the efforts of both governments to facilitate travel, to the benefit of their respective citizens.” BUSBC believes GEP to be a first step towards a full-fledged reciprocal Global Entry program between both countries.

 

 

BUSBC urges the U.S. government to include Brazil in the U.S. Global Entry program and to secure Brazilian reciprocity for U.S. citizens travelling to Brazil. Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States.

 

 

BUSBC recommends the Brazilian government to reform its visa regime to allow for fast-track issuance of visas to highly-skilled professionals as a way to address Brazil’s labor needs in the short term as well as provide an opportunity for the development of local work force through peer training. In this context, BUSBC applauds the Brazilian government announcement of a broad initiative to update Brazil’s immigration system’s legislative and regulatory frameworks. As part of this effort, the cabinet-level Brazilian Secretariat of Strategic Affairs (SAE) at the Executive Office of the President is currently conducting a nation-wide study to identify key areas for immigration reform.

 

 

BUSBC strongly supports the U.S. government to include Brazil in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and to secure Brazilian reciprocity for U.S. citizens travelling to Brazil. The VWP enables nationals of participating countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. Recognizing the importance of VWP, President Barack Obama and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff announced on their April 9, 2012, joint statement their commitment “to work closely together to satisfy the requirements of the of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program and Brazil’s applicable legislation to enable U.S. and Brazilian citizens visa free travel.” On July 11, 2012, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and Brazilian Minister of External Relations Antonio Patriota issued a joint statement toward cooperation on travel facilitation establishing a bilateral Working Group on Visa Issues (WGV). One of WGV’s key goals is to “be the platform to propose measures and procedures for the implementation of such presidential guidance, taking into account the requirements of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program and Brazil’s applicable legislation.”

 

Further Information:

 

Diego Bonomo

Senior Director for Policy

Brazil-U.S. Business Council

Phone: (202) 463-5994

E-mail: dbonomo@uschamber.com

 

Mariana Yazbek

Coordinator

Brazil-U.S. Business Council

Phone: (202) 463-3197

E-mail: myazbek@uschamber.com