| VISA-FREE TRAVELLING TO THE USA 28/10/2008 |
| (2008-10-28) |
| Last updated: 2008-10-28 17:38 EET |
Soon, Romanians will be allowed to travel to the US without visas. Michael Chertoff, head of the Department of Homeland Security, told Britain's “Financial Times” that in the months to come Romania would be included, alongside Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Malta and Poland, in the Visa Waiver Program, which allows visa-free travel to the US for 90 days, for pleasure or business.
Two weeks ago, Hungary, the Czech Republic and four other Central and East European states, plus South Korea, saw visa duties abolished for their citizens, under separate agreements negotiated with the US. Last week, the outgoing American Ambassador to Bucharest Nicholas Taubman announced that in November Romania and the USA would sign a joint Declaration as a first step towards inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program, but he pointed out that more moves must still be undertaken to facilitate the process.
He said that the visa application rejection rate for Romania was still very high, around 25 per cent, although it must not exceed 10 per cent. The Foreign Ministry in Bucharest has recently stated that the signing of the joint Declaration will confirm Romania's determination to meet Washington's security requirements, regarding, among others, the exchange of information on terrorism suspects, reporting missing or stolen passports, implementing the Marshal programme on the access of officers under cover aboard direct Romania-US flights.
Access to the Visa Waiver Program also requires the meeting of a number of technical terms, laid down in the American legislation. If these terms are met, Romanians might be able to travel without visas to America starting as soon as 2010.
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2025-04-03
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