Ooni Koda
  1. Home
  2. /
  3. Newsfeed
  4. /
  5. Secretary Mayorkas and Secretary Blinken Announce Designation of...

Secretary Mayorkas and Secretary Blinken Announce Designation of Romania into the Visa Waiver Program  

February 11, 2025

January 10, 2025    WASHINGTON – Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas, in consultation with Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, designated Romania as a participating country in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The collaboration and information sharing at the core of the VWP will significantly enhance the security interests of the United States in addition to encouraging legitimate travel and commerce between the two nations.      Secretary Mayorkas and Secretary Blinken commend Romania for meeting the stringent security requirements to join the VWP. Romania is an exceptional U.S. partner, and our strategic relationship has only grown stronger over the past several years. Romania’s entry into the VWP is evidence of our strategic partnership and our shared commitment to security and economic prosperity.      The VWP is a culmination of comprehensive security partnerships between the United States and designated countries that meet strict requirements related to counterterrorism, law enforcement, immigration enforcement, document security, and border management. Program requirements include that the country have a rate of nonimmigrant visitor visa refusals below 3 percent during the previous fiscal year; issues secure travel documents; extends reciprocal travel privileges to all U.S. citizens and nationals without regard to national origin, religion, ethnicity, or gender; and works closely with U.S. law enforcement and counterterrorism authorities. Romania put forth a significant whole-of-government effort to meet all program requirements, including entering into partnerships with the United States to share information on terrorism and serious crimes with U.S. law enforcement and security agencies, and enhancing its vetting of individuals traveling to and through Romania. As with all VWP participating countries, DHS will continually monitor Romania’s compliance with all program requirements and, as required by statute, conduct a comprehensive assessment of Romania’s continued designation in the VWP on the national security and law enforcement interests of the United States at least once every two years.      CBP anticipates the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) online application and mobile application will be updated on or around March 31, 2025, to allow most citizens and nationals of Romania to apply to travel to the United States under the VWP for tourism or business purposes for up to 90 days without first obtaining a U.S. visa. These authorizations are generally valid for two years. Travelers with valid B-1/B-2 visas may continue to use their visa for travel to the United States, and B-1/B-2 visas will remain an option for Romanian citizens. ESTA applications may be found at esta.cbp.dhs.gov or download the “ESTA Mobile” application through the iOS App Store or the Google Play store.      U.S. citizens already enjoy visa-free travel to Romania and are eligible to stay in Romania for up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes if they have a passport that is valid for at least three months from the date of arrival.      Romania is the 43rd member of the VWP and the fourth country added under Secretary Mayorkas’s tenure (Croatia (2021), Israel (2023), and Qatar (2024)). Additional information on the VWP can be found at www.dhs.gov/visa-waiver-.   

Read in full - click here
Romanian-born Druid AI raises USD 31 million for agentic AI platform growth, appoints Joseph Kim as CEO

Druid AI today announced it has secured USD 31 million in Series C financing to advance the global expansion of its enterprise-ready agentic AI platform under the leadership of its new CEO, Joseph Kim. The investment was led by Cipio Partners, with participation from TQ Ventures, Karma Ventures, Smedvig, and Hoxton Ventures. Kim has more […]

Average Bucharest driver loses roughly 12 days annually due to congestion, report shows

Drivers in Bucharest lose, on average, 12 working days annually due to congestion, according to Traffic Index 2025, an analysis carried out by the Institute for Visionary Cities. The index compares how much circulation slows down on working days compared to a free-flow regime, for the 41 county seat municipalities and Bucharest. According to the analysis, […]

Romanian Parliament holds moment of silence for American conservative activist Charlie Kirk

Romania’s Senate and Chamber of Deputies held a moment of silence on Monday, September 15, for American conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot dead at a university event on September 10. The marking of Kirk’s death came at the initiative of the far-right party Alliance for the Union of Romanians, or AUR. Both Kirk […]

EUR 60,000 shelter in Romania's Făgăraș Mountains to be completed this autumn

A mountain shelter is scheduled to open this fall in the Făgăraș Mountains' Curmătura Bratilei area following a EUR 60,000 investment. The shelter, located at an altitude of 2,100 meters, is built by the private ophthalmopediatric hospital Infosan in partnership with the non-profit Carpați Mountain Association and the Brașov Emergency Situations Inspectorate (ISU Brașov). The […]

Trailer released for ‘The Yellow Tie’ biopic on Romanian conductor Sergiu Celibidache

The official trailer for The Yellow Tie/Cravata Galbenă, a major international production about the life of renowned Romanian conductor Sergiu Celibidache, has been released, with the film set to hit cinemas nationwide on November 14. The cast includes John Malkovich and Miranda Richardson, both double Academy Award nominees, along with Ben Schnetzer, Kate Phillips, Sean […]

Romania’s cancelled 2024 presidential elections influenced by Russia, general prosecutor says

The presidential elections held in November 2024 in Romania were influenced by a large-scale hybrid war orchestrated by Russia before they were cancelled, according to general prosecutor Alex Florența. Romania’s presidential election was annulled last December after declassified reports alleged Russian involvement in cyber activities aimed at undermining the integrity...