Romanians to Gain Visa-Free Access to the US Starting March 2025, Ambassador Announces
Key Points
1. Romanians are expected to travel to the US without a visa starting in March or April 2025.
2. Romania's Ambassador to the US recently announced that the visa rejection rate has fallen below the required three per cent.
3. Romania is believed to have met all the conditions for entry into the US Visa Waiver Program.
Romania's ambassador to the United States, Andrei Muraru, announced that the country is on track to join the US Visa Waiver Program by March or April 2025.
During a live interview, Ambassador Muraru explained that an official announcement from the US government is expected in January 2025, after the US presidential elections in November 2024. Following that, a report will be drafted in Washington, which typically takes about eight weeks. The report is then sent to the US Department of State for consultation. Afterward, the Secretaries of Homeland Security and State will jointly notify Congress of Romania's accession, with no vote required. This process is largely administrative and not public.
Once Romania joins the Visa Waiver Program, its citizens will be able to travel to the US visa-free for up to 90 days, opening up more travel and employment opportunities.
Romania Meets Visa Waiver Requirements
Romania has been striving for years to qualify for the US Visa Waiver Program by meeting various criteria, including enhanced data-sharing with the US and efforts to combat crime. However, one major challenge has been reducing the visa rejection rate, which must be below three per cent.
In October, Ambassador Muraru confirmed that Romania had successfully reduced its visa rejection rate to under the three per cent threshold, positioning the country to join the program. In 2023, the US issued 60,000 visas to Romanians, with an eight per cent rejection rate.
Other Countries Working Towards US Visa Waiver
Alongside Romania, Cyprus and Bulgaria are also in the process of joining the US Visa Waiver Program. While Bulgaria and Romania have partially entered the Schengen Area, Cyprus is still working to meet all the necessary requirements.
Cyprus officially submitted its application for the Visa Waiver Program in July 2024 and is aiming to join by 2025. Bulgaria has also launched a campaign to lower its visa rejection rate and raise public awareness about the Visa Waiver Program.