WH: US-China visa deal a 'game-changer' [The next "immigrant" wave?]

The Hill ^ | Justin Sink

[Cincinatus' Wife]

A new deal dramatically extending the length of visas for individuals traveling between the U.S. and China will be a “game-changer” for relations between Washington and Beijing, the White House said Monday.

The U.S. and China will now issue short-term tourist and business visas that are valid for up to 10 years. Students traveling between the two countries will now be granted visas lasting five years. Previously, all three types had been valid only for a single year.

“In terms of the U.S.-China bilateral relationship, this is a game-changer,” said National Security Council Senior Director for Asian Affairs Evan Medeiros.

A senior administration official described the pact as “a really big win” that could lead to “hundreds of thousands of additional U.S. jobs” thanks to increased Chinese tourism.

According to the White House, some 100 million Chinese tourists travel internationally each year, but only 1.8 million come to the U.S. — partially because of the arduous visa requirements. President Obama said Monday he expected travel to as much as quadruple under the new agreement.

[DoughtyOne]

Agreed, and staying for up to ten years. Well, five for students. I suppose they can go home and re-up.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Looks like Obama’s “scorched earth” policy has already started.

[DoughtyOne]

Well, he’s going to do his best. He only has two years to bring us down.

[wetphoenix]

~The outcome will be even more Chinese communist student-spies coming over here.~

At least they are effective at keeping East Europeans out. You know a ‘Polish plumber’ type who are stealing jobs from hardworking British men and these pesky Russians gathering in Orthodox Churches in Michigan to plot terrorist acts upon innocent Americans. I ‘ve seen the latter in some recent Hollywood movie so I expect more people to believe it is what Russians usually do.