America intends to add four countries to the visa waiver program that allows citizens to come to the lands without a visa in order to stay up to 90 days, according to what the Minister of Homeland Security Alejandro Mallorcas said, noting that this file is under study.
According to Reuters, Alejandro Mallorcas said: “We have four candidates under consideration: Israel, Cyprus, Bulgaria and Romania... We are very focused on the program,” adding that this has great economic and security benefits.
Last February, Mayorkas discussed with the European Commission's Home Affairs Commissioner and "expressed their continued interest in maintaining the US-EU Passenger Name Register Agreement and working with Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania to fulfill the VWP qualifications."
The Visa Waiver Program currently includes 40 countries and to ensure participation in it, a country must meet requirements related to counter-terrorism, law enforcement, immigration, document security and border management.
Last August, President Joe Biden said his administration would enhance bilateral cooperation with Israel in ways that benefit both American and Israeli citizens, including working together toward Israel's inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program.
Mayorkas also met with Israel's ambassador to the United States in August and discussed the issue of visa waiver.
Last September, America added Croatia to the program, and Travel Association President Roger Dow asserted that “adding Croatia boosts the US economy by $100 million… Every time you add one of these countries, travel booms,” he said.
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