Romania ready to reapply for US visa waiver program post-election

Romania is set to renew its efforts to join the United States' Visa Waiver Program (VWP) that allows visa-free travel to the US, with the government planning to formally request its re-admission following the country's presidential election.

According to a statement from Romania's Cabinet of Ministers, the government is ready to engage with American authorities to enhance security cooperation on border issues, as part of the broader discussions surrounding the Visa Waiver Program, Caliber.Az reports.

The Cabinet emphasized that Romania has met all the necessary technical conditions for joining the program, which allows citizens of participating countries to travel to the US for business or tourism for up to 90 days without requiring a visa. Romania’s government hopes that the upcoming election of a new president, scheduled between May 4-18, will serve as a pivotal moment for re-initiating the visa-free discussions with the US.

The statement from the Romanian government noted, "The election of a new Romanian president after the May 4 and 18 elections could be the most important moment for our country to ask our American partners to resume admission to the Visa Waiver Program."

Romanian officials have expressed confidence that they have fulfilled all the technical requirements stipulated by the US for participation in the program. The government has stated that it hopes for a swift and positive response to its reapplication, which it plans to submit soon after the presidential election.

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP), administered by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in consultation with the Department of State, permits citizens of designated countries to travel to the United States for business or tourism for stays of up to 90 days without a visa. In return, those countries must permit US citizens and nationals to travel to their countries for a similar length of time without a visa for business or tourism purposes.

Since its inception in 1986, the VWP has evolved into a comprehensive security partnership with many of America’s closest allies. The VWP utilizes a risk-based, multi-layered approach to detect and prevent terrorists, serious criminals, and other mala fide actors from traveling to the United States.

By Vafa Guliyeva