Not so easy to get a tourist visa

The Oct. 3 front-page article “U.S. tries to woo overseas consumers” specifically flagged Brazil as a country from which “White House officials are courting consumers.” I think the White House should have a talk with the State Department.

The story noted that the State Department is adding a “significant” number of staffers in Brazil and China to keep up with demand for tourist visas. The agency has much room for improvement in Brazil: The most recent State Department list of U.S. consular wait times cites the four main U.S. consulates there — in Brasilia, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Recife — as having the third-, fourth- and sixth- (two are tied) longest waiting times for a non-immigrant visa interview. Specifically, one must wait 127 days for an interview in Brasilia, 123 days in Sao Paulo and 94 days in Rio de Janeiro and Recife.

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The State Department has a long record of understaffing its consulates in Latin America. In fact, nine of the 11 lengthiest visa wait times are for consulates in Latin America.

Paul L. Good, Herndon

The writer was a member of the Foreign Service from 1963 to 2000.