Speaking on radio station 94.7, the new US Ambassador to South Africa, Reuben E. Brigety II, commented on the current problems being experienced to obtain a US visa in South Africa.
Brigety was asked by listeners about the current situation, with one listener saying that their parents needed to travel to Mozambique for a visa appointment, and another asking why there was such a long wait.
The ambassador said he had directed his team, which includes the new consular chief in SA, to come up with a plan by September 1 and said the goal was to halve the current backlog by Christmas this year.
Brigety intends to deploy existing officers, who will spend additional time processing visa applications, and said people applying would see him personally at some of the visa lines.
Visa delays are a problem experienced globally, with Brigety noting that the COVID pandemic had “hurt some of the financing we would use to address (the issues)”. He assured listeners that his team would bring their American ingenuity and determination to help solve the problems.
Listen to the rest of Brigety’s interview on the ‘Anele and the Club on 947’ Facebook page.