Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 62 Part 3.djvu/1087

 3708 WASHINGTON, October 12, 1948 THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE Washington, D.C. Waiver by Belgium of passport visa re- qulrements for Ameri- can dtizens. The Acting Secretary of State to the Belgian Ambassador The Acting Secretary of State presents his compliments to His Excellency the Belgian Ambassador and has the honor to refer to the Embassy's note number 4723 of October 12, 1948, concerning the visa requirements for American citizens who wish to proceed to Belgium and to remain therein for a temporary period of time. It is understood that beginning October 15, 1948, American citi- zens, in possession of valid passports issued by the Government of the United States, proceeding to continental Belgium for transit or for a stay of not exceeding two months, are not required to be in posses- sion of valid visas; and that such American citizens are subject to the present Belgian regulations governing the sojourn, establishment or employment in Belgium of persons of other than Belgian nationality. It is also understood that beginning October 15, 1948, military per- sonnel of the American Occupation Forces in Germany who are American citizens, who are on detached service or on furlough, and who are in possession of a military certificate of identity bearing a photograph of the holder, together with travel orders or evidence of authorized military furlough, may proceed to continental Belgium for transit or for a stay of not exceeding two months without the necessity of obtaining a valid Belgian visa. Such personnel traveling to continental Belgium and who are in civilian clothes, however, are INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS OTHER THAN TREATIES [62 STAI. visit non-immigrant visas which would be valid for presentation at a port of entry at any time or any numbers of times during a period of twenty-four months instead of the present twelve months. The waiving of passport fees for non-immigrant temporary visitors would be continued. Having decided to waive altogether visa requirements for Ameri- can citizens proceeding for short stays in Belgium, the Belgian Gov- ernment would appreciate it if the Government of the United States could instruct the American consular and immigration authorities to reduce to the minimum the formalities accompanying the issuance of non-immigrant visas to Belgian nationals and to facilitate to the utmost the entry in the United States of the rightful bearers of such visas. The Belgian Embassy would be very grateful if the Department of State would be good enough to inform the Embassy whether these proposals are agreeable to the Government of the United States.

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