US Considers Czech Republic For Visa Waiver Program Under New Memorandum
27/02/2008
The US and Czech Republic government officials signed a political document which could help secure a visa-free travel for Czech citizens to the United States from September this year later.
According to Daniel Novy a Czech embassy spokesman the US Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff and Czech Interior Minister Ivan Langer signed a memorandum of understanding, which could include the Czech Republic on the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP).
"The US side expressed a hope that the Czech citizens will travel to the US visa-free in the fall of this year," said Novy, who accompanied Langer and Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek to Washington this week.
Although this memorandum brings joy to the Czech Republic and strengthens its political ties with the US, the EU Officials have raised concerns over the proposed documentation.
This apprehension has seen the EU commission, which is the EU's executive arm and guardian of the union treaties looking at the documents closely, to make sure that the Czech Republic is not breaking any EU rules.
US policy has been to assess each country individually, and to refuse visa-waiver status based on a number of criteria, like the number of visas which have been refused or security issues.
Officials have said that Estonia and Greece could follow the Czech lead, which comes out of speedy need to free up travel for its citizens, by signing the memorandum in the near future.
The document, signed by Chertoff and Ivan Langer, Czech interior minister, outlines the steps the Czech government will have to take to conclude the deal. The country would have to share information on biographic and biometric data of Czech visitors to the United States.
Both sides have made it clear that negotiations have not concluded and the memorandum of understanding states that the United States plans to carry out a study on what effect the changes would have before finishing a deal.
"The visa Waiver Program also known as the VWP, is a program of the United States of America which allows citizens of specific countries to travel to the US for tourism or business for up to 90 days without having to obtain a visa. All countries participating have a high HDI (human development index) and most are regarded as developed countries".
Global Visas is one of the world's authority on immigration and visas. If you wish to find out if your country qualifies under the US Visa Waiver Program or to find out more about US Study Visas, Work Visas or Travel Visas for over 90 Days, take our assessment test now and one of our consultants will be in touch to discuss this further with you.
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