Key Insights
Romanians are anticipated to be able to travel to the US visa-free by March or April of next year. The Romanian Ambassador to the US recently announced that visa rejection rates have fallen below the three percent threshold. It is currently believed that Romania has fulfilled all the requirements necessary for participation in the US Visa Waiver Program.
Romania’s ambassador to the United States, Andrei Muraru, has stated that Romania will enter the US Visa Waiver program in March or April of 2025.
The ambassador shared these comments during a live interview, noting that the current government is expected to make an official announcement in January. With the US presidential elections scheduled for November 5, the transition of power is likely to occur by next year, as reported by Schengen.News.
After arriving in Washington, a report is typically drafted within approximately eight weeks. Following this, the report is submitted to the Department of State for review. The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, along with the Secretary of State, will then notify Congress through a joint letter. No congressional vote is required for Romania’s entry into the program, and this process is not conducted publicly.
By becoming part of the US Visa Waiver Program, Romanians will be able to visit the US without a visa for up to three months. This development could enhance employment prospects for Romanians while also enabling them to explore all 50 states.
Romania Finally Eligible for US Visa
Waiver Programme Accession
Romania has been striving to join the US Visa Waiver Program for several years, working to fulfill the necessary requirements set by the US.
The country has made strides in various areas, such as data sharing with the US and efforts to combat crime. However, one of the key challenges Romania faced was meeting the visa rejection rate criteria.
To qualify for the Visa Waiver Program, a country must maintain a visa rejection rate below three percent, indicating that it does not present a significant risk of irregular migration to the US.
In October, Ambassador Muraru announced that Romania had successfully achieved a visa rejection rate of less than three percent.
In 2023, US authorities granted 60,000 visas to Romanians, with rejection rates recorded at eight percent.
Cyprus & Bulgaria Are Also in the Process of Joining
the US Visa Waiver Scheme
Cyprus, Bulgaria, and Romania are actively pursuing membership in the US Visa Waiver Program as part of their journey toward joining the Schengen Area. While Bulgaria and Romania have made partial progress in entering Schengen, Cyprus has yet to fulfill all necessary criteria.
In July 2024, Cyprus officially submitted a proposal for the US Visa Waiver Program and aims to join by 2025. To be eligible, Cyprus needs to address several aspects, including enhancing travel information.
Regarding Bulgaria, Ivan Kondov from the Foreign Affairs Ministry recently met with US Ambassador to Bulgaria Kenneth Merten. Kondov announced that a campaign to raise awareness about the US Visa Waiver Program will be launched by the end of the year. Bulgaria is also working to lower its visa rejection threshold as soon as possible.
