Visa Waiver Agreements Signed With Eastern European Countries

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Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff has signed visa waiver agreements with the governments of Slovakia, Hungary, Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia. The agreements outline security enhancements that put the countries on the path toward visa-free travel to the U.S. and possible designation as Visa Waiver Program (VWP) members later this year.

The DHS said it will establish an electronic system of travel authorization for air passengers. VWP travelers will be asked to provide some basic information online in advance of their trip, which will generate an authorization number for travel. The DHS plans to announce details on how the authorization systems will work, and when they will begin, later in 2008.

The announcements are here (Slovakia, Hungary, Lithuania) and here (Estonia, Latvia). A transcript of Secretary Chertoff’s remarks is also available.