The US authorities have decided to pause the process of Romania entering the US Visa Waiver program, as they are carrying out more reviews on the matter.
The news was disclosed in a notice published by the US Department of Homeland Security, revealing that the implementation of the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is being halted until further notice, VisaGuide.World reports.
The US Government is reviewing the recent designation of Romania into the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) to ensure adherence to VWP’s stringent security requirements. During this review, the United States is pausing implementation of the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) for Romanian citizens.
Romanians were expected to travel without a visa to the US by the end of this month but the Trump administration has started carrying out assessments that concern travel from countries around the world.
Romanian Minister Says Visa-Free Travel Is Being Delayed Due to “Technical Issues”
According to the Romanian Interior Minister, Catalin Predoiu, visa-free travel to the US, which would be enabled once Romania is admitted to the US Visa Waiver Program, has been delayed due to technical issues.
This is not an issue related to Romania or the Visa Waiver itself but rather a reflection of the broader migration policy review undertaken by the new administration.
The US Visa Waiver program allows nationals of countries that have a visa-exempt status to enter the US without a visa for a period of 90 days. Although a visa is not required for entry into the US, it is mandatory for nationals of these countries to fill out an ESTA. Bulgaria and Cyprus are also in the process of joining this program.
Trump Administration Considers Stringent Travel Rules for Third-Country Nationals
The US authorities are discussing making travel less available for nationals of certain countries, citing national security concerns as the main reason for these restrictions.
A color-coded system, with red representing countries where travel is not allowed, is underway. Countries like Sudan, Venezuela, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, Iran, Libya, Cuba, and North Korea are on the red list and Pakistan and Afghanistan are expected to be added to the list soon.
Travel to the US is not allowed for nationals of these countries, while countries on the orange list have some restrictions in place when it comes to migrants and international students.