Legislation reintroduced to include Greece in US visa waiver program

[ Back to Articles ]

May 9, 2009

Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-14), Co-Chair
and Co-Founder of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, was
joined by her fellow Co-Chair, Rep. Gus M. Bilirakis (FL-09), in
reintroducing legislation that would designate Greece as a program
country in the U.S. State Department s Visa Waiver Program.

The Visa Waiver Program permits nationals from certain countries who
are traveling to the United States for tourism or business to stay for
ninety days or less without obtaining a visa. Currently, thirty-five
countries are included in the Visa Waiver Program. To participate,
countries must meet several criteria, including reciprocal visa-free
travel for U.S. citizens, secure machine-readable biometric passports,
and a less than 3% refusal rate of U.S. non-immigrant visitor visa
applications.

Of the original fifteen European Union nations, Greece is the only
member not to belong to the Visa Waiver Program. However, Greece has
met the current criteria mandated for entry into the Visa Waiver
Program, including the less than 3% refusal rate. Since January 1,
2007, Greek nationals have been traveling with improved,
machine-readable passports that are produced using state-of-the-art
biometric technology to meet the highest possible security standards
and specifications.

Greece's application to join the Visa Waiver Program has been pending
since September 2007, when Greece was formally nominated by the State
Department.

“Greece is a critical ally of the United States,” Maloney said. “I
believe that this legislation is an important reminder of the congressional support for Greece s entry into the Visa Waiver Program.”

Original cosponsors include Representatives Gus M. Bilirakis (R-FL), Michael McMahon (D-NY), John Sarbanes (D-MD), Mike Capuano (D-MA), Shelley Berkley (D-NV), Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), James McGovern (D-MA), Zack Space (D-OH), and Dina Titus (D-NV).

Background: Established in 1996, the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues works to foster and improve relations between the United States and Greece. The Caucus brings a renewed congressional focus on key diplomatic, military, and human rights issues in a critical part of the world. The members of the Caucus introduce legislation, arrange briefings on current events, and disseminate information to interested parties. The topics on which the Caucus focuses include U.S. aid to Greece and Cyprus, the conflict in Cyprus, U.S. relations with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the status of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and developments in the Aegean. In the 111th Congress, the Caucus has more than 135 members.

The National Herald