Posts by LarryNH914

LarryNH914

17 Oct 2008

USA, Canada / No US Visa Waiver for Poles - 8/9/07 [96]

I can't wait till this idiot leaves.

I guess there is some "technicality" involving sharing of information that is holding things up?

President George W. Bush, trying to eliminate a major source of contention with allied nations, announced Friday that the United States is rescinding visa requirements for citizens of six European countries and South Korea.

Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and South Korea will be added to the U.S. visa waiver program in about a month. Each of those countries allows U.S. citizens to visit without visas.

Some lawmakers worry that visa waivers could make it easier for terrorists to slip into the United States. All of the countries added to the list agreed to take specific steps, such as coming up with tamper-proof, biometric passports that are difficult to forge.

International Herald Tribune article

LarryNH914

17 Oct 2008

USA, Canada / No US Visa Waiver for Poles - 8/9/07 [96]

The technicality is that over 3% of those that go to the US on tourist visa's don't return when they are supposed to. That 3% is the benchmark Poland must be under in order for Bush to allow them.

Not sure about that, I think it has to do with homeland security, more than issues with immigration.

"Bush said the seven countries added Friday agreed to share information about security threats to the United States, and their citizens would use a new system that requires travelers to register online ahead of their visits to the United States."

I would have to think that Poland would gladly share information about security threats to the US, even without a visa waiver.... And I would guess Bulgaria has more that 3% visa violations....