There has been so much hue and cry by Indian Media and Patwaris about Imran Khan not being given any welcome ceremony at the airport.
Reality is that this was an "Official Working Visit" on President Trump's invitation.
"According to official State Department guidelines, there are five types of visits to be accorded to a ranking member of a foreign government. They are: a "state visit," an "official visit," an "official working visit," a "working visit," and a "private visit."
State Department guidelines say that an "official working visit" can be offered to either a chief of state or the head of a government, but it must be extended by the U.S. president himself. There is no ceremony upon arrival and departure. The press is usually granted some photo opportunities and occasionally there is a press conference. There is no gift exchange and spouses do not attend the luncheon.
"Ranking the visits gives a level to what the [U.S.] president wants to do when he invites someone to this country," she says. "Often they really need an official working visit where they can sit down and work through problems or things that they need to talk about. An official working visit is really a visit of substance and policy. A state visit and an official visit are more of a ceremonial type thing where we are honoring a country."
www.rferl.org
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Reality is that this was an "Official Working Visit" on President Trump's invitation.
"According to official State Department guidelines, there are five types of visits to be accorded to a ranking member of a foreign government. They are: a "state visit," an "official visit," an "official working visit," a "working visit," and a "private visit."
State Department guidelines say that an "official working visit" can be offered to either a chief of state or the head of a government, but it must be extended by the U.S. president himself. There is no ceremony upon arrival and departure. The press is usually granted some photo opportunities and occasionally there is a press conference. There is no gift exchange and spouses do not attend the luncheon.
"Ranking the visits gives a level to what the [U.S.] president wants to do when he invites someone to this country," she says. "Often they really need an official working visit where they can sit down and work through problems or things that they need to talk about. An official working visit is really a visit of substance and policy. A state visit and an official visit are more of a ceremonial type thing where we are honoring a country."
World: How The U.S. Ranks The Visits Of Foreign Heads Of State
Washington, 6 August 1997 (RFE/RL) -- Every year in Washington there are an average of six "state visits" where chiefs of state, presidents and royalty from around the globe come to the United States
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