Ooni Koda
  1. Home
  2. /
  3. Newsfeed
  4. /
  5. US Ambassador on Romania joining Visa Waiver: A...

US Ambassador on Romania joining Visa Waiver: A number of important steps still need to be completed

October 31, 2024

US Ambassador to Romania Kathleen Kavalec, after talks with Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu at the Victoria Governmental Palace on Tuesday, said that in the coming months a number of important steps still need to be completed to establish whether Romania is in fact eligible to join the Visa Waiver Program.She voiced gratitude for the close partnership with the Romanian government in the joint efforts of bringing Romania into the Visa Waiver Program, which would facilitate tourist and business travels of Romanians in the US without a visa.Kavalec anticipated that additional consultations would take place between the two governments this autumn."To participate in the program, we anticipate that further consultations will be taking place between our two governments this fall to review a number of previously agreed upon security measures. In event of a favorable decision being taken by the US government to include Romania in its US Visa waiver program, we anticipate that there will be a period of careful preparation and public information sharing before any changes in the current visa requirements can be implemented. Visa refusal rate data for all Visa waiver country aspirants is usually published no later than January. Should all the conditions and preparations proceed successfully, the program could take effect sometime in 2025," Kathleen Kavalec also said.Asked about those steps that Romania needs to make, the ambassador pointed out: "There are a number of steps regarding security and information sharing and we have signed a couple of agreements on those that will need to be implemented."At the same time, Kathleen Kavalec showed that this program concerns only tourist and business visas, when asked if new negotiations were scheduled between the two sides to eliminate the visa requirement for Romanians wanting to study or work in the US."This program is for business and tourist visas only, it does not apply to student visas or other types of work visas," the US ambassador also pointed out.  (Photo:https://gov.ro/)

Read in full - click here
Romania does not have to choose between EU and US, prime minister says

Romanian prime minister Marcel Ciolacu said on Monday, February 24, that a "lasting peace" in Ukraine cannot be achieved without the involvement of the United States, and argued that Romania does not have to choose between it and the European Union. The statements come as the Trump administration is currently negotiating a resolution to the […]

Romania’s acting president calls parties to consultations ahead of EU summit on Ukraine, security

Romania's acting president, Ilie Bolojan, has invited leaders of parliamentary parties to consultations on Wednesday, February 26, to prepare the country's stance for the extraordinary European Council meeting on March 6 in Brussels.  The summit, convened by European Council president Antonio Costa,...

Romania’s Anti-Corruption Directorate conducts searches at Port of Constanța

Roughly 40 searches took place in the Port of Constanța and other locations on Monday, February 24, in an investigation by the Anti-Corruption Directorate, or DNA, targeting influential local businessmen, former customs officials in the port, and one of the leaders of the Constanța branch of the governing Social Democratic Party (PSD). The prosecutors’ accusations […]

New eco initiatives in Bucharest: Educational park space, Dâmbovița River project secure funding

The Bucharest Community Foundation has announced funding for two new projects aimed at enhancing climate resilience in the Romanian capital by implementing sustainable ecological solutions to improve urban infrastructure and environmental quality. The projects were selected through the sixth round of the Environmental Platform for Bucharest initiative. Out of 16 eligible proposals, the jury chose […]

Romanian citizen liberated in seventh Hamas-Israel hostage exchange

One of the hostages released on Saturday, February 22, by the terrorist organization Hamas also holds Romanian citizenship. The exchange took place before another setback in negotiations and exchanges. Hostages Tal Shoham and Avera Mengistu were released during a staged event in Rafah, and hostages Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem Tov, and Omer Wenkert were released […]

Western Romania: Polish Scallier opens new retail park in Arad

Polish company Scallier, who is expanding its network of Funshop Park retail parks in Romania, is set to open a new shopping center in the Arad region. The opening date for the roughly 10,000 sqm retail park is March 6. The decision to build a retail park in the Arad region in western Romania was […]