Romanians to Travel to US Visa-Free by End of October, Ambassador Announces
Key Takeaways
1. Rejection rates for Romanian visa applications must drop to 3% for eligibility in the visa-free travel program.
2. Security agreements and measures are the next steps in the process for admission to the US Visa Waiver Program.
3. In 2023, the US issued 60,000 visas to Romanians, with an 8% rejection rate, exceeding the required 3%.
Romanian Ambassador to the US, Dan-Andrei Muraru, stated that Romania is nearing the final stages of meeting the criteria for the US Visa Waiver Program. He expressed confidence that by the end of the American fiscal year on October 1, Romania will achieve the necessary rejection rate of less than 3% for visa applications.
Several Security Measures Required for Visa-Free Travel to the US
To qualify for the Visa Waiver Program, Romania must sign security agreements with the US to combat cross-border crime and terrorism. The ambassador indicated that some agreements are in progress and, once all criteria are met, the US authorities will be notified. An evaluation mission is expected in Romania by the end of this year or early next year to determine if Romania meets the program's criteria.
In 2023, 60,000 visas were issued to Romanians. Romania ranks 30th in the number of US visas issued this year, with 60,474 visas granted, following Japan with 75,305 and Germany with 64,866.
In comparison, US applicants for Schengen visas showed a high approval rate, with 94% of the 174,258 applications approved in 2023, one of the highest approval rates for any country.