THE US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur and Brand USA today launched the Visit USA Malaysia programme to provide the Malaysian trade and travellers support and resources for travel to the US.
The programme is a collaboration between the US Embassy’s commercial and consular sections, and includes in-person training sessions for Malaysian travel agencies.
Agencies will learn about best practices to help travellers prepare US visa applications, qualify for Brand USA support and receive ongoing information from the embassy and Brand USA, among other benefits.
The programme coincides with the annual consumer, MATTA Fair, which starts tomorrow in Kuala Lumpur and ends on March 15.
Reene Ho-Phang, managing director, Taiwan and Hong Kong, Brand USA, said: “The US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur and Brand USA will host a booth for the first time at the fair and it will also be the first time Brand USA is entering the Malaysian market.”
Besides promoting travel and tourism in the US, participation at the MATTA Fair is also to dispel misperceptions surrounding the difficulties of getting a US visa and the lengthy period of visa processing.
Edgard D Kagan, deputy chief of mission, US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, explained: “The average approval rate of visa applications from Malaysia is 95 per cent and the visa processing period is one working day.”
Jessica E Norris, consul at the US Embassy in Malaysia, said applicants not adequately prepared for the interview and not furnishing supporting documents are the main reasons for their applications getting rejected.
