US online visas ‘should be free of charge’

The European Commission is awaiting the final outcome of a US bill, which could see visas imposed on all EU citizens, before it considers any reciprocal measures.

Franco Frattini, the European commissioner for justice, freedom and security, said that he was in discussions with the US to ensure that the online visa would be free of charge and would not need to be applied for days ahead of travel.

But testimony before a House of Representatives sub-committee last week (24 May) by Nathan A. Sales, the deputy assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, revealed that the US intends to charge for the online visa and would like to see armed US air marshals deployed on European airlines.

The US wants to introduce the online visa as a way to increase screening of people whose countries are part of the visa waiver programme, which currently allows visa-free access to the US. Fifteen EU states are part of the programme while the other 12 states (Greece plus 11 of the 12 newest member states, all except Slovenia) are campaigning to be allowed to join. President George W. Bush has said that he wants to allow these states to enter the programme but US security officials are fearful of the risks it poses. One way around it would be to drop the need for lengthy embassy-based visa applications for non-visa waiver countries and introduce an online application, known as electronic travel authorisation, for everyone.

"We have the system of online visa authorisation with Australia which is functioning quite well. We did not decide to apply reciprocal measures against Australia because it’s very simple, it’s not properly a visa, it’s an automatic control online which is not bureaucratic. It’s a very quick system of advanced response," Frattini said, in an interview with European Voice.

"What is very important to me is the principle of equal treatment of all member states’ citizens. That’s the key point."

He acknowledged that last-minute travellers, especially business travellers, would be affected by the system and said that he was in talks with the US to reduce the application time to 24 hours before travel.

In the Congressional hearing, Sales said: "Funds used to develop, operate, and maintain the system would be recouped by establishing a fee-for-service payment structure." He added that another way to increase the security of those travelling to the US from visa-waiver countries would be "co-operation in the operation of effective air marshals programmes".

Sales said that federal air marshals "must be permitted to carry weapons onboard all international flights, just as they do on domestic flights within the United States".

The European Commission is awaiting the final outcome of a US bill, which could see visas imposed on all EU citizens, before it considers any reciprocal measures.