Bush Administration Backed Romania For Visa Waiver Program But Rejection Rate Is Too High - Official

Romania was backed by the Bush administration for the Visa Waiver Program, but efforts are impaired by the fact that the visa rejection rate of over 10%, Amy Kudwa, spokeswoman for the United States Department of Homeland Security, told MEDIAFAX Tuesday.

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She said the same issue, the high rejection rate, is an obstacle for the inclusion of Bulgaria and Poland into the Visa Waiver program.

"President Bush expressed his support on the expansion of the Visa Waiver Program, but the rejection rate exceeds 10% in the three countries (Romania, Bulgaria and Poland, e.n.) and that’s the problem," Kudwa said.

She added efforts to include Romania in the program continue and Romania and the U.S. signed a bilateral agreement in this respect on November 3.

"We’re working on it,” Kudwa said.

Asked whether the rejection rate is the only impediment to Romania’s inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program, Kudwa said it is an essential condition.

"There are still things to be done. We’re working on it. This is a process that will continue,” she said, without mentioning a time frame for a decision to be made.

The rejection rate on Romanians’ visa applications is still high, although it decreased considerably this year, by nearly 12 percentage points, to 25% from 37.7% in October 2007 and 31.3% in January 2008.

According to unofficial statistics, Romanians submit about 45,000 visa applications for the United States, of which an average 11,000 are rejected. However, this doesn’t mean 11,000 Romanians are denied visas, as US embassy workers say the same person would frequently require a visa, despite previous rejections.

Romania signed on November 3 a statement regarding the Visa Waiver Program, which doesn’t have concrete legal effects, but represents the commitment of the United States to keep working to include Romania in the program, official sources said.

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