By Sami Zaptia.
London, 12 January 2017:
Libyan students in the USA will now be able to apply for a multi-entry visa valid for a number of years, the Libya embassy in Washington has announced. Previously, bona fide Libyan students have had to reapply for their US visa abroad if they leave the US in the middle of their study programme.
Applying for a visa to the US for Libyans based in Libya is a costly and demanding exercise, having to travel to Tunis in order to apply and all the associated costs. Equally, there is no guarantee for students wishing to travel to Libya for a holiday that they will get a visa to re-enter the US to continue their studies, and if they receive it – it may not arrive in time.
The news will come as a great fillip for many students stranded in the US unable to leave or visit family for years.
Confirming the news, the Libyan embassy in Washington DC said that, after much hard work, it has received approval from US authorities for this change in policy. It added that this decision needed a political decision by the US government, rather than an administrative one. The US decision involved a review by a number of stakeholders which accounted for the time taken to reach a decision, the Libyan embassy explained.
