Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 63 Part 3.djvu/435

 INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS OTHER THAN TREATIES [63 STAT. June 10, 28, and July 12, 1949 [T. I. A. . 1988] 8U. . o. 1451. Period of validity. Arrangement between the United States of America and Austria respect- ing passport visa fees. Effected by exchange of notes dated at Vienna June 10 and 28, and July 12, 1949; entered into force July 15, 1949. The American Legation to the Austrian FederalChancellery, Depart- ment of ForeignAffairs THE FOREIGN SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA No. 55 The Legation of the United States of America presents its com- pliments to the Federal Chancellery, Department of Foreign Affairs, and has the honor to inform the Federal Chancellery that the Gov- ernment of the United States understands that the Austrian Govern- ment will consider the question of waiving visa requirements, but not passport requirements, for American citizens proceeding to Austria who desire to remain therein for a temporary period of time. Even if the Austrian Government should decide to waive visa requirements for American citizens proceeding to Austria, the Gov- ernment of the United States would be unable to accord identical courtesies to Austrian nationals proceeding to the United States and its possessions because of the provisions of Section 30, Alien Registration Act of 1940, approved June 28, 1940 (54 Stat. 673), which require that each alien entering the United States, except in emergency cases in which the visa requirements may be waived by the Secretary of State, be in possession of a valid visa or 6ther valid permit to enter. However, the Government of the United States will consider the question of granting passport visas without fees, to be valid for any number of applications for admission into the United States within a period of twenty-four months, instead of the present twelve-month period of validity of such visas, to Austrian nationals who are proceeding to the United States and its possessions for business or pleasure purposes and who are bona fide non-immi- grants within the meaning of the immigration laws of the United States, provided the Austrian passport of each bearer remains valid during the period of validity of the visa. All other classes of non-immigrant passport visas granted Austrian nationals will continue to be valid, as at present, for a period of twelve months, provided the Austrian passport of each bearer re- mains valid for that period of time. The period of validity of a visa relates only to the period within which it may be used in connection with an application for admission at a port of entry into the United States and its posses- 2740

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