Patricks Day. On this day no one needs to be reminded of the close cultural and historical ties between the United States and Ireland. Yet the Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver Pilot Program extends advantages to virtually all western European citizens. while denying participation to our close friends. the Irish. I will soon be introducing legislation with the gentleman from Kentucky which will eliminate the visa requirements for the Irish. The Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver Pilot Program permits nationals of certain countries to apply for admission to the United States for up to 90 days without having to obtain a visitors visa. This September. the review and update of the Visa Waiver Pilot Program will take place again. Since the last review in 1990. the overstay rates for Irish citizens on nonimmigrant visas has declined considerably. In 1991. it was just 1.2 percent. In 1992. it improved to a mere .08 percent. These overstay rates are considerably lower than many countries already in the program. I urge my colleagues to support the inclusion of Ireland in the Visa Waiver Policy Program and put an end to the unfairness.
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Visa visa visas