US looks to scrap different visa procedures for new EU citizens

By Andrew Beatty

Date: 03/03/05

There is fresh hope that US visa fees of up to $100 (e76) could soon be a thing of the past for the EU's newest members.

Following this month's flurry of transatlantic diplomacy, the US looks set to produce an action plan, which could end arduous visa procedures and the differential treatment of EU members.

The plans are likely to set out a series of technical hurdles that must be cleared to obtain admittance to the US visa-waiver programme which allows visa-free travel for up to 90 days. Measures to assist in reaching this stage are also likely to be put forward.

27 countries are currently part of the waiver programme including Slovenia and 14 of the 'old' EU member states (all but Greece). But Cypriot, Czech, Estonian, Hungarian, Lithuanian, Latvian, Maltese, Polish and Slovak citizens face lengthy and expensive visa application procedures before travelling to the US.

During his visit to Bratislava last week US President George W. Bush indicated that his administration would favour revising the current visa regime.

But any change to legislation will have to go through Congress, where homeland security concerns have led some to call for visa waiver programmes to be scrapped altogether.

Others point to the estimated 20 million visitors travelling to the US each year under the programme as an important source of tourist and business dollars.

"It is not so easy," said one central European diplomat "it is moving really slowly". Current rules mean those with a visa application refusal rate of over 3% are ruled out of the programme. Poland, one of the countries most affected, has a rejection rate of 8% while Slovakia has a rejection rate estimated at 8-10%.

"Many are rejected because they stayed in America too long on a previous visit," said one Polish official.

Many 'overstays', as they are known in the jargon, occurred before the fall of communism and any deal is likely to recalculate levels discarding figures from that time.

But according to Maros Sefcovic, Slovakia's ambassador to the EU, the issue also carries deep political significance.

"For us it is not only a technical issue but an emotional one," he said. "We recognise the work we have to do on our part."

Ireland's inclusion in the waiver programme, despite having a 'turn-down' rate of more than 3% for long-term visas underlines the political nature of the problem for many.

Diplomats say it is unclear if the road maps will be open only to NATO members, many of whom helped in the US-led invasion of Iraq.

With Congress moving slowly, Poland, which has been spearheading efforts, has proposed a series of interim measures. "It is probable that we will have some discussions about some sort of facilitation, making the procedure less difficult, making visas more accessible by reducing costs," said one diplomat.

But final agreement could still be two to three years away. "I think the turning point will be our accession to Schengen," he added, referring to the passport-free zone which, with the exception of Ireland and the UK, includes all 'old' 15 member states as well as Iceland and Norway.

Article reports that the United States looks set to produce an action plan which could end arduous visa procedures and the differential treatment of citizens from the new EU Member States.