BAN ON ISSUE OF VISAS

Southland Times, Issue 24499, 29 July 1941, Page 4

BAN ON ISSUE OF VISAS

UNITED STATES CONSULS (P.A.) AUCKLAND, July 28. Because of the recent revision of the United States immigration laws forbidding American consuls to issue visas, six New Zealanders and one Australian who had booked passages to San Francisco on the Matson liner Monterey were left on the wharf when the liner sailed. Six other passengers who hoped to pick up their visas at Suva sailed on the ship. The new regulations require all travellers to the United States to obtain their visas direct from Washington and the consequential extra work at the Immigration Department there has resulted in some delay. The intending passengers were aware of the position, but expected that their visas would be cabled from Washington and waited at the ship’s side right up to sailing time in case they should turn up. Those who sailed without visas took a chance of having them cabled to Suva. The Rev. Jasper Calder, who intended having a holiday in the United States, was one of those left behind. Some of the travellers who were left behind are hoping to obtain their visas in time to leave by one of the PanAmerican Airways clippers, but passages by clippers are heavily booked. The next Matson liner from Auckland to San Francisco will be the Mariposa on September 22.