No. 387 The American Embassy to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs The Embassy of the United States of America presents its compliments to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and has the honor to inform the Ministry that it is in receipt of telegraphic instructions from the Department of State in regard to the new visa arrangement between France and the United States which is to go into effect on April 1, 1949. The instructions state that the government of the United States is appreciative of the concessions made by the Government of France in removing, effective April 1, 1949 the visa but not the passport requirements for American citizens, wherever they are resident, who are entering the following French territories for a temporary visit: metropolitan France, the Republic of Andorra, Algeria, Morocco, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guiana, Reunion and Tunisia. The government of the United States desires to grant as nearly as possible, consistent with statutory and other restrictions, similar concessions to citizens of France applying for non-immigrant passport visas. As of April 1, 1949, citizens of France resident in the above territories and in possession of valid French passports, who are eligible to receive visas as bona fide non-immigrants, will be granted gratis passport visas, and in the case of temporary visitors, the visas issued under Section 3(2) only may be valid for twenty-four months, provided the passports of the bearers remain valid. All the other non-immigrant passport visas granted to citizens of France residing in the above-mentioned territories, as well as diplomatic, official and international organization visas, will be issued without fee and may have a maximum validity of twelve months. Citizens of France residing outside the above-mentioned territories are subject to the former French visa fee arrangement and the maximum validity of non-immigrant visas remains twelve months. The period of stay in the United States which may be granted any aliens. is determined by the immigration inspectors at the port of entry. Citizens of the United States proceeding to French territories other than those mentioned above are subject to French visa requirements and the former fees. This arrangement will be put into effect outside metropolitan France, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Switzerland, for citizens of France residing in the territories specified above but temporarily absent therefrom and proceeding to the United States, as soon as American consular officers can be notified. C.W.G. PARIS, March 31, 1949 VISAS: TERRITORY OF THE SAAR Exchange of notes at Washington June 20 and August 5, 1949 The Embassy of France presents its compliments to the Department of State and has the honor to inform it that United States citizens may henceforth enter the Saar without a visa, for a maximum stay of three months, the sole requirement being that they have a valid United States passport. The Embassy of France avails itself of the occasion of the present note to renew to the Department of State the assurances of its very high consideration. [SEAL] Department of State, The Secretary of State to the French Ambassador The Secretary of State presents his compliments to His Excellency the Ambassador of the French Republic and has the honor to refer to the Embassy's note no. 353 SCA 3-1-1 of June 20, 1949, concerning the abolishment of visa requirements for American citizens who are in possession of valid passports issued by the Government of the United States and who are entering the Territory of The Saar for a temporary stay not to exceed three months. 1 The Saar territory was returned to Germany on Jan. 1, 1957, pursuant to the FrenchGerman agreement of Oct. 27, 1956. American diplomatic and consular officers have been instructed that French nationals resident in the Territory of The Saar, who are in possession of valid French passports and who are eligible to receive visas with which to apply for admission into the United States as bona fide nonimmigrants will be granted, henceforth, gratis passport visas, and in cases of qualified temporary visitors, visas may be valid for twenty-four months provided the passports of the bearers remain valid for that period of time. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WASHINGTON, August 5, 1949 |