The US Department of National Security (DHS) has announced that suspends Romania's participation in a visa -free program View Waiver Program (VWP).
The information on the DHS website dedicated to the program said that US government “He reviews Romania's recent attachment to the visa -free program to ensure compliance with rigorous safety requirements“.
“The United States suspend implementation during this review Electronic travel authorization system (ESTA) for Romania citizens. This break will remain in force until the United States ended, “the ministry announced.
No reason was given Review of the decision to attach Romania to the program.
The USA is changing his mind on Romania. They will not be able to travel without a visit
The admission of Romania to visa -free was announced on January 10, 10 days before the end of the rule of the previous administration Joe Bidenabut in practice The decision was to come into force on March 31when the Romanians were to start submitting electronic applications for a trip in the ESTA system. Now this option has been suspended.
The then US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in the January statement that Romania took up many years of efforts of the entire country to meet all program requirementsincluding “she established a partnership with the United States in order to share information on terrorism and serious crimes with law enforcement agencies and US security agencies and strengthened the verification of people traveling to Romania and through its territory.”
Romania was to be the 43rd member of the VWP program25. The European Union state and the fourth after Croatia, Israel and the Cathar adopted for the program during the term of office of Joe Biden. Poland was adopted in 2019.
The US may lose billions. The interest of tourists is melting
The AFP agency reported that some Donald Trump's decisionsespecially the imposition of duties on Canada, Mexico, China and the threat of taking them in the European Union – caused that Interest in the United States as a tourist direction is falling.
The British company Tourism Economics estimates that in 2025 the US is to visit by 5.1 percent less tourists than a year ago. However, these are calculations from a month ago.
– Since then sthe life has worsened and the result will probably be even lower – The president of Adam Sacks assessed in an interview with AFP.
After Trump's statements regarding annexation Canada In February, the border between the countries exceeded half a million travelers less.
According to Tourism Economics, the American tourist sector can lose around $ 64 billion revenues in 2025.