Brilio.net/en - The United States of America is now limiting its visitors post terrorist attack in Paris, November 2015. The policy change will affect mainly Europe citizens, for they have been members for US Visa Waiver Program (VWP) that allowed their people to travel around the USA without visa in 90 days. Now, if anyone from the countries had visited Iran, Iraq, Sudan or Syria after March 1, 2011, visa is required.
The four Middle Eastern countries are considered to be the origin of the terrorists and could be a danger that might threaten the US security. To prevent the country from any terrorism attack, the US government took a step to safe its people by filtering their visitors and limiting the visa granting, even for the VWP countries.
Last Thursday (Jan 21), the USA government issued the new policy and requires the citizens of 38 countries to fulfill the travel conditions through Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) before they can enter the country. US Department for Foreign Affairs declared they would take the ESTA authorization away if a person has dual citizenship, especially with the Middle Eastern countries mentioned.
There are exceptions, of course, for travelers who had been to the four countries if they are part of an international organization or a humanity group, also reporters that had covered news in those countries. Those who visited Iran or Iraq for business trips after July 14, 2015 to attend the nuclear treaty event are also exceptional.
Here is a list of the countries that are members of the US VWP: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italia, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Dutch, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Swiss, Taiwan and United Kingdom.
(brl/tis)
