Kathleen Ann Kavalec, the Ambassador of the United States of America to Romania, says that visa renewals are essential for Romania’s entry into the Visa Waiver program. She called on all those who have had a visa to request its renewal.
Efforts for Romania’s entry into the Visa Waiver program are progressing, and the number of visa refusals is decreasing, stated Kathleen Ann Kavalec, in an interview with Antena 3.
"I believe we are making progress in our campaign aimed at trying to bring Romania into the Visa Waiver program. There have been advances in terms of the agreements that need to be signed, and we have also seen a decrease in the number of refusals. The refusal rate is a key issue in terms of calculations, but it is not a political issue, just one related to numbers, and the way we can solve it is by having more applications.
So Romanians should know that they can help us in our campaign by renewing their visa, which they can do online, without the need for an appointment or to come to the embassy. I hope that all those who have had a visa in the past will renew it and can do so online, or if you have never had a visa for the USA, you can apply for one, but you will need to come for an interview," said the Ambassador of the United States.
Kathleen Kavalec mentioned, however, that although there is progress in this process, there are no guarantees: "As I said, it's a matter of numbers, in the end. I hope we get there, but I wouldn't want to make predictions. We will see at what stage we will be at the end of this year. I would like this to happen as soon as possible, but we will see."
Asked about the statements of Romanian officials and some American officials who have stated that January 1, 2025 is the deadline for Romania to enter the Visa Waiver program, Kavalec replied: "We measure year by year. Once a year, we analyze the situation of that year. That period ends in October, but it takes a while until we analyze the data, so by the end of the year, we should know if we have reached the target or not."
"I hope we succeed, that's why we work, and that's why we need more visa renewals, especially in applications. So all those who are looking at us and want to help us achieve this goal, please make this request to be part of this program that allows you to stay in the United States without a visa for 90 days.
And even when Romania enters this program, these visas will still be valid and can be used, so it's worth doing it, and we are grateful to Romanians who have helped us by applying for a visa. I have met many outstanding Romanians who have come to help us promote this program," she added.