Romania to Join US Visa Waiver Program by March 2025, Says Ambassador
Romanian citizens are expected to travel to the United States without visas starting in March or April of 2025, according to Romanian Ambassador to the U.S., Andrei Muraru.
Romanian citizens are expected to travel to the United States without visas starting in March or April of 2025, according to Romanian Ambassador to the U.S., Andrei Muraru. During a recent live interview, Muraru noted that the Romanian government plans to make a formal announcement regarding this development in January.The U.S. presidential elections are scheduled for November 5, 2024, and the transition of power may affect the timeline for Romania's accession to the Visa Waiver Program. Following the elections, a report will be drafted within approximately eight weeks and submitted to the U.S. Department of State for consultation. Subsequently, a joint notification will be sent to Congress from the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State. Notably, no congressional vote is required for Romania's entry into the program, as the process remains non-public.With access to the Visa Waiver Program, Romanian citizens will be allowed to visit the U.S. for up to three months without a visa, potentially enhancing employment opportunities and enabling exploration across all 50 states.
Progress Towards Visa Waiver Eligibility
Romania has long sought to join the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, working diligently to fulfil the necessary requirements. Significant progress has been made in areas such as data exchange and crime prevention. A key criterion for eligibility is maintaining a visa rejection rate of less than 3%, indicating that the country does not pose a risk of irregular migration to the U.S.Ambassador Muraru recently announced that Romania has successfully achieved this threshold, with visa rejection rates dropping below 3%. He expressed optimism for confirmation from U.S. authorities, stating, “Our assessment, based on this year's visa applications and a strong downward trend in recent years, is that Romania has now fallen below the 3% rejection rate.”In 2023, U.S. authorities issued approximately 60,000 visas to Romanian applicants, with a rejection rate of around 8%.
Other Countries Pursuing Visa Waiver Status
Romania is not alone in its pursuit of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program; both Bulgaria and Cyprus are also working towards this goal. While Bulgaria and Romania have partially integrated into the Schengen Area, Cyprus has yet to meet all its requirements.In July 2024, Cyprus officially submitted its application for the Visa Waiver Program, aiming for inclusion by 2025. The country is focusing on improving its travel information systems, among other necessary criteria.In Bulgaria, Ivan Kondov, a representative of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, met with U.S. Ambassador Kenneth Merten to discuss strategies for increasing awareness and facilitating entry into the Visa Waiver Program. Bulgaria is actively working to reduce its visa rejection rate to meet the program's standards.As Romania approaches its anticipated entry into the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, the country looks forward to enhanced mobility for its citizens and greater opportunities for international engagement.
