If only that a couple of you stated above were the reasons or even if those reasons were an actual problem in the grand scheme of things.
The whole business resulted from construction companies bringing in Chinese labourers under tourist visas. Surely there are other, more sensible ways to address that problem than to stick the same restrictions on everyone. It's silly enough that we demand a visa of everyone in the first place, but to then add this additional impediment (that's still not 100% clear and is not applied consistently) is just dumb.
Let's face it, we really can't afford to turn away a single tourist.
On the contrary, I am all for eliminating visa restrictions completely for a big chunk of the world (all of Europe, nearly all of East and Southeast Asia, the whole Western Hemisphere, all the littla Pacific islands...)
Originally Posted by
abcx
German Aufenthaltstitel. So not just a US F1.
It's funny that the Americans usually don't want to see a 'need' before issuing a 10yr visa. They are also now starting to waive interviews for low risk applicants who apply within 48 months of their old visa expiring.
See, you got an Aufenthaltstitel when you needed one for the period you needed it.
It's a need-based system they use. If you need a visitor visa for two years, you will get it.
Very few countries give long-validity blanket visas anyway. Is that easier on the traveller? Of course. But that's the way it is.