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Tourism

Visa Waiver Program Designation Rescinded for Romania

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with the Department of State, rescinded Romania's designation in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) on May 2, 2025. The decision was made as a result of a review, which concluded that Romania's designation should be rescinded to protect the integrity of the VWP and enhance border and immigration security. However, Romania may be reconsidered for VWP designation in the future should they meet the statutory eligibility criteria.

The eligibility requirements for the VWP are defined in Section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended by the Secure Travel and Counterterrorism Partnership Act of 2007 and the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015. To be eligible, a country must meet several requirements, including having an annual temporary visitor visa refusal rate of less than 3% and accepting the repatriation of its citizens, former citizens, and nationals ordered removed from the United States within three weeks of the final order of removal.

Key Takeaways:

  • Romania's VWP designation was rescinded by the Department of Homeland Security on May 2, 2025, due to concerns about border and immigration security.
  • The decision was made after a review of Romania's eligibility for the VWP, which concluded that their designation should be rescinded to protect the integrity of the program.
  • To be eligible for the VWP, a country must meet several requirements, including having an annual temporary visitor visa refusal rate of less than 3% and accepting the repatriation of its citizens, former citizens, and nationals ordered removed from the United States within three weeks of the final order of removal.
  • The eligibility requirements for the VWP are defined in Section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended by the Secure Travel and Counterterrorism Partnership Act of 2007 and the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015.
  • Romania may be reconsidered for VWP designation in the future should they meet the statutory eligibility criteria.

Statistics:

  • Romania's VWP designation was rescinded on May 2, 2025.
  • The eligibility requirements for the VWP include an annual temporary visitor visa refusal rate of less than 3%.
  • A country must accept the repatriation of its citizens, former citizens, and nationals ordered removed from the United States within three weeks of the final order of removal.
  • The eligibility requirements for the VWP are defined in Section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Sources:

  • United States Department of Homeland Security
  • United States Department of State
  • Section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended by the Secure Travel and Counterterrorism Partnership Act of 2007 and the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015

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