By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON – The Trump administration announced on Friday that it was removing Romania from the U.S. visa waiver program, which permits visa-free entry into the country, just under four months since announcing its inclusion.
The previous administration under President Joe Biden announced on January 9th that they would be welcoming Romania into the program. They stated that Romania fulfilled strict security criteria, which involved collaborating with U.S. law enforcement agencies to exchange data regarding terrorism and major criminal activities. These updated regulations were scheduled to come into play approximately by March 31st.
In late March, the Department of Homeland Security halted implementation to carry out an assessment. This evaluation ultimately determined that revoking the designation was necessary to safeguard the program’s integrity and maintain border and immigration security.
“We appreciate Romania’s strong collaboration over the years in boosting security cooperation. There might be an opportunity to revisit Romania’s eligibility for inclusion in the visa waiver program in the future,” stated Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.
Romania became the 43rd nation to join the program—and the fourth to be included under Biden’s tenure following Croatia, Israel, and Qatar. This initiative has resulted in an increase in tourism from participating nations since it simplifies travel to the U.S.
The Romanian Embassy in Washington did not promptly reply to requests for comments.
In March, the number of international travelers arriving in the U.S. via airplane decreased by approximately 10%, as reported by official statistics.
American citizens can travel to Romania for up to 90 days for leisure or business trips without needing a visa.
(Reported by David Shepardson; Edited by Chris Reese and Rosalba O’Brien)
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