The Editor, Sir:

In response to the growing demand for visa appointments, the embassy decided to innovate and schedule a special Saturday-only visa renewal opportunity for holders of 10-year multiple-entry visas on March 8.

Several detailed press releases were sent out in the weeks prior to March 8 to clarify that the Saturday appointments should only be made by individuals seeking to renew their existing or recently expired 10-year visas. The information was widely announced in the major daily newspapers, several radio stations, and on the embassy's website. In addition, our staff called every working number of those who had signed up for Saturday appointments, leaving clarifying messages to prevent misunderstandings when no one answered. Subsequently, over 800 appointment holders rescheduled their appearances based on our calls and information in the media.

Notwithstanding our best efforts to inform the public, unfortunately some individuals who did not meet the criteria did turn up and could not be accommodated. In doing so however, we assured them that their Paymaster receipt would still be valid from one year of date of issuance to set another appointment, and that more appointment slots would be opened soon.

Of the 1,048 holders of 10-year visas who had registered as instructed and were interviewed on March 8, 95 per cent had their visas renewed.

I am, etc.,

JAMES T. Heg

Chargé d'Affaires

Embassy of the

United States of America