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Fact Sheet: Extending Travel Opportunities to Our Allies
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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary October 17, 2008

Fact Sheet: Extending Travel Opportunities to Our Allies President Bush
Announces Seven Countries Have Met The Requirements To Enter U.S. Visa
Waiver Program Under 9/11 Commission Law

ÿÿWhite House News

ÿÿÿÿÿ President Bush Discusses the Visa Waiver Program

Today, President Bush hosted representatives from seven nations that have
met the criteria for admission into the United States' Visa Waiver Program
(VWP) and six nations on track to be admitted. ÿIn about a month, the
citizens of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania,
Slovakia, and South Korea will be able to travel to the United States for
business or tourism for up to 90 days without a visa.ÿ So-called "roadmap"
countries, which are on track to qualify for VWP admission, at today's
event were Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Malta, Poland, and Romania.
  þ 

    The 13 countries represented at today's event are close friends and
    allies whose leaders told the President that their citizens believed it
    unfair that they had to wait in line and pay for visas to travel to the
    United States when other allies are allowed to travel visa-free.ÿThe
    President agreed while pointing out that in the post-9/11 world,
    expanding visa-free travel would be possible only as travel security
    measures are strengthened.
  þ 

    Today's announcement represents a milestone in the long effort by the
    Administration to modernize the VWP.ÿDuring a November 2006 visit to
    Estonia, the President announced that he would work with Congress to
    expand opportunities for visa-free travel as we strengthen the security
    of the VWP.ÿ The President appreciates the bipartisan support this
    initiative received on Capitol Hill.ÿ Asÿpart of the "Implementing
    Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007," Congress acted to
    give the Administration greater flexibility to admit new countries into
    the VWP provided that they agree to a number of new security
    enhancements, notably to share information about threats to our
    people.ÿ The law also requires foreign citizens who want to travel
    under VWP to register through a new online program that screens for
    potential security threats.

Extending Travel Opportunities To Some Of Our Closest Allies Deepens Our
Friendship And Makes All Our Countries Safer
  þ 

    The VWP currently allows the citizens of 27 countries to travel to the
    United States for tourism or business without obtaining a visa.
    ÿNationals participating in the VWP must travel only for business,
    pleasure, or transit; stay in the United States for 90 days or less;
    and, if arriving by sea or air, hold a valid ticket for return or
    onward travel and enter the United States aboard an air or sea carrier
    designated as a participant in the VWP.
  þ 

    President Bush believes the best foreign policy for America is one that
    lets visitors get to know this great country firsthand. ÿThroughout
    history, some of the strongest advocates of freedom have been those who
    came to America and saw the blessings of liberty with their own eyes.ÿ
    The President is grateful to these 13 countries for seeking to
    strengthen ties between our citizens and looks forward to an even
    stronger partnership in the years ahead.

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