US Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mallorcas said the United States is considering adding four countries to the visa waiver program that allows citizens to come to US soil without a visa in order to stay up to 90 days.
“We have four candidates under consideration: Israel, Cyprus, Bulgaria and Romania… We are very focused on the program,” Mayorkas added at a travel industry event, saying it has significant economic and security benefits.
The United States added Croatia to the program in September. American Travel Association President Roger Dow said on Tuesday that adding Croatia boosts the US economy by $100 million…Every time you add one of these countries, travel is booming.”
The White House said in August that a meeting between President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett emphasized that “his administration will enhance bilateral cooperation with Israel in ways that benefit both American and Israeli citizens, including working together toward Israel’s inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program.”
Mayorkas also met with Israel’s ambassador to the United States in August and discussed the issue of visa waiver.
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