The Romanian government has launched a new campaign which urges Romanian citizens to renew their expired US visas in a bid to join the Visa Waiver Programme.
This Programme allows visa-free travel to the United States and so far, Romania, Bulgaria and Cyprus are the only countries that have not joined Schengen.News reports.
The new campaign calls for Romanian citizens with US visas that have expired in the last four years to renew them by September 30 at the latest.
Romania Might Soon Join US Visa Waiver Programme If It Reaches 3% Rejection Rates
One of the conditions for Romania to visit the US visa-free is managing to keep its visa rejection rates at three per cent. This applies to US B1/B2 visas, which are business and tourist visas.
According to Romanian Prime Minister, Marcel Ciolacu, with as many Romanians as possible joining the campaign, it is possible for the country to enter the programme by next year.
There is a huge opportunity, valid until September 30, so I urge all Romanian citizens who have a valid B1 or B2 visa and those who have had such a visa to apply for its renewal. This way, we will achieve that refusal rate of a maximum of three per cent, and I am convinced that by mobilizing as many Romanians as possible in this campaign, we will travel to the United States without visas starting next year.
Romania Aims at Joining the Programme Ahead of Bulgaria & Cyprus
While representatives are claiming that Romania might join the programme soon enough, Cyprus and Bulgaria have begun their negotiations. There are several requirements to join the US Visa Waiver Programme, many of which are related to security.
Last month, the Romanian Ambassador to the US, Andrei Muraru revealed that his country was reaching its goals. According to the Ambassador, Romania is in the final stages of joining the Visa Waiver Programme.
However, rejection rates for 2023 remain higher – at around eight per cent, as he noted. On the other hand, the number of visas this year is increasing as the US Embassy has revealed, reaching around 60,000.
Valentin Vătăjelu, the national coordinator for Romania’s accession to the Visa Waiver Programme says that this campaign is launched as a “safety net”, as there are indications that Romania is close to reaching the three per cent rejection rate requirement.
