Austria 2005
DHS To Require Digital Photos in Passports for Visa Waiver Travelers
After extensive consultation with ICAO and Congress, DHS is requiring a digital photograph of the passport holder’s face integrated into the data page of the passport by October 26, 2005. DHS will require VWP countries to produce passports using the integrated circuit chip, or e-passport, capable of storing the biographic information from the data page, a digitized photograph, and other biometric information, in travel documents by October 26, 2006. Valid passports issued by VWP countries before October 26, 2005, that do not contain a digital photograph will still be accepted for travel under the auspices of the VWP, provided that the passports are machine-readable. ... [Read More]
Europe and Eurasia - US Department of State
01 July 2005 - United States Outlines Assistance to Moldova -- Fiscal Year 2005 ... [Read More]
Investment Climate Statements: 2005
Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs Finance and Development [Read More]
Consular Information Sheets
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | ... [Read More]
Austria (02/05)
February 2005 ... Austria has achieved sustained economic growth. During the 1950s, the average annual growth rate was more than 5% in real terms and averaged about 4.5% through most of the 1960s. In the second half of the 1970s, the annual average growth rate was 3% in real terms, though it averaged only about 1.5% through the first half of the 1980s before rebounding to an average of 3.2% in the second half of the 1980s. At 2%, growth was weaker again in the first half of the 1990s, but averaged 2.5% again in the period 1997 to 2001. After real GDP growth of 1.4% in 2002, the economy grew again only 0.7% in 2003, with 2001-2003 being the longest low-growth period since World War II. In 2004, Austria’s economy recovered and grew 2.0%, driven by booming exports in response to strong world economic growth. Predictions are for the economy to grow 2.2-2.3% in 2005 and 2.2-2.4% in 2006. ... [Read More]
Consular Information Sheets
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | ... [Read More]
V. Country Narratives -- Countries A through G
Cyprus is a destination country for women trafficked from Eastern and Central Europe for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Traffickers who forced women into prostitution continued to fraudulently recruit victims for work as dancers in cabarets and nightclubs on short-term "artiste" visas, for work in pubs and bars on employment visas, or for illegal work on tourist or student visas. There was increasing evidence of Chinese women being trafficked for sexual exploitation in Cyprus. The Government of Cyprus does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. Cyprus made some progress in its anti-trafficking efforts over the past year. The new police anti-trafficking unit produced successful results and showed vigilance in combating the problem. Government recognition of the problem improve ... [Read More]
Austria
March 21, 2005 ... [Read More]
Austria
The Austrian Government assesses the business profits of non-corporations at half the income tax rate to which they would be subject based on the income alone. Austria has no wealth or net worth tax, and no trade tax (Gewerbesteuer), unlike neighboring Germany. As a result of the 2005 corporate and income tax cuts, Austria’s share of total tax and social payments should decline from 44.1% of GDP in 2002 (sixth among OECD members in total tax and social payments) to 41.6% in 2005. The government’s goal is to reduce the share of taxes in GDP further to 40% by 2010, which will require substantial additional cuts in budget expenditures. ... [Read More]
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