Romania is very close to meeting all the technical criteria for dropping out of visas for travel to the United States, said Romanian Ambassador to Washington Andrej Muraru. This became clear after a meeting with the American Minister of Internal Security Alejandro Mayorkas, reported Agerpress, quoted by BTA.
The two discussed the joint steps ahead for the inclusion of Romania in the "Visa Waiver" program, which gives the right to visa-free travel for up to 90 days in the USA. The Embassy of Romania in Washington announced the news on social networks.
"We are on the final stretch of the road to the abolition of the visa regime. Only a few weeks remain until the fulfillment of the last technical condition – reducing the visa refusal rate. After that, an evaluation process will be launched, which will last several months," Ambassador Muraru said.
This process is expected to include an inspection by US experts who will confirm the country's progress. Muraru added that the goal is to complete the bureaucratic procedures by the end of the term of the administration of President Joe Biden, and to be included in the program next year.
US Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, expressed satisfaction with the progress made and emphasized the importance of the fiscal year, which ends on September 30. Romania aims to achieve a visa refusal rate below 3%, which is a key requirement for entry into the programme.
American legislation requires countries that wish to be included in the visa-free travel program to meet technical criteria, including having a low visa refusal rate (type B), reminds Agerpress.
Earlier in August, according to Digi24 TV, the American authorities were expected to announce a decision to abolish visas for Romanian citizens on October 15.
Recently, the Romanian government launched the "Let's Qualify Romania" campaign, which aims to encourage citizens with valid or recently expired US visas to renew their documents in order to reduce the rejection rate and facilitate inclusion in the "Visa Waiver" program ;.