Madam Speaker. today I introduce legislation to include Greece as a program country in the Visa Waiver Program. The Visa Waiver Program permits nationals from certain countries who are traveling to the United States for tourism or business to stay for 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. Currently. 27 countries are included in the Visa Waiver Program. To participate. countries must meet several criteria inciuding reciprocal visafree travel for U.S. citizens. secure machinereadable biometric passports. and a maximum allowable 3 percent refusal rate of U.S. nonimmigrant visitor visa applications. Of the original 15 European Union nations. Greece is the only member not to belong to EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS. Vol. 153. Pt. 10 the Visa Waiver Program. However. Greece has met the current criteria mandated for entry into the Visa Waiver Program. including the 3 percent retusal rate. As of January 1. 2007. Greek passports issued prior to January 1. 2006. are no longer considered valid for travel. Greek nationals are traveling with new. machinereadable passports that are produced using stateoftheart biometric technology to meet the highest possible security standards and specifications. Greece is a critical ally ot the United States. While I hope that the Department ot State and the Department of Homeland Security will move forward to include Greece in the Visa Waiver Program. I believe that the legislation that I am introducing today is an important step in making that happen. Joining me in introducing this legislation are Representatives Gus M.
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Visa visa