Free Republic

BRUSSELS: The United States does not want a "visa war" with Europe, US officials said Monday as they reaffirmed plans to further open access to EU travellers not currently covered by a US visa-free programme. US officials met their EU counterparts in Brussels to discuss extending the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which currently allows nationals from 15 mostly western European members of the 25-member bloc to enter the United States without a visa. The issue of American visas has soured relations between Washington and many of its allies — in particular Poland, which has been a strong supporter of the...

<p>April 2 (Bloomberg) -- Travelers from western European nations and Japan will be added in September to the list of foreign visitors fingerprinted and photographed upon arrival in the U.S., the State Department said.</p> <p>The extension is designed to address security concerns stemming from a U.S. agreement last month to delay for two years a new passport requirement for visitors from 27 countries, mostly in Europe, who are allowed to enter the U.S. without visas, State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said.</p>

WASHINGTON -- Increasing numbers of Middle Easterners are ducking a new anti-terrorist screening system by coming to America on passports from "low-risk" nations such as France, which participate in the federal Visa Waiver Program, immigration officials warn. The controversial program -- still in effect after Sept. 11, despite growing calls here for its elimination -- allows foreign travelers from 28 nations to enter the U.S. for business or tourism for up to 90 days without obtaining the documentation law enforcement needs to screen out foreign threats. Adding to worries, passport fraud in some of these countries -- namely France and...