March 18, 2008

Estonia and Latvia to Join U.S. Visa Waiver Program

On March 12, 2008, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff signed agreements with European Union members Estonia and Latvia that will put these countries on the path to joining the U.S. Visa Waiver Program.

The Visa Waiver Program allows holders of machine readable passports from 27 countries, to enter the United States for a period of up to 90 days for business or tourism, without first obtaining a visa from a U.S. Embassy or Consulate overseas. Established in 1986 with the objective of eradicating unnecessary barriers to travel, stimulating tourism and permitting the Department of State to focus consular resources in other areas, it was recently reformed and enhanced security requirements were introduced in August 2007.

The Czech Republic was the first country to sign the enhanced Visa Waiver Program agreement on February 26, 2008. Since gaining independence in 1991, Estonia and Latvia have lobbied intensively for their citizens to travel to the U.S. without visas.