Visa policy of the United States

The Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched an awareness campaign aimed at reducing US visa refusals for Bulgarian citizens, with the goal of bringing the refusal rate below 3%. This would make Bulgaria eligible for visa-free travel to the United States, a significant milestone for many aspiring travelers.

Cyprus is on the verge of joining the US Visa Waiver Program, with just a few minor issues remaining to be addressed.

Bulgaria has made significant progress in reducing the percentage of US visa denials, with only 6.02% of applicants rejected in 2024. This represents a sharp decrease from the previous year, when 11.61% of visa applications were denied, marking the lowest denial rate in the last 18 years.

In July, Cypriot authorities made contact with Delta Air Lines, based in Georgia, with the aim of establishing a direct flight connection between Cyprus and the US. Efforts are ongoing, and not just with that airline. Targeting the American market requires coordinated actions that extend beyond the jurisdiction of a single ministry and involve many stakeholders.

A program initiated for Turkish businesspeople will expedite U.S. visa procedures for companies selected based on criteria favored by Washington, daily Milliyet has reported.

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ivan Kondov recently discussed the prospects of visa-free travel to the United States with US Assistant Secretary of State James C. O'Brien. During the conversation, Kondov highlighted the steps Bulgaria has taken toward achieving this goal, amidst ongoing discussions about Romania's progress in the same area.

Romanian citizens may be able to travel to the US without visas starting next year, according to the country's Foreign Minister, Luminița Odobescu. Speaking on Digi24 television, she noted that October will bring the first indication of the visa refusal rate, with positive signs so far. Efforts continue to ensure progress.

The agreement between the government of the Republic of Cyprus and the government of the United States of America on cooperation on the use of travel information, signed in Washington on June 17, was ratified on Thursday by the House of Representatives in Nicosia.

Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has announced that Romanians will likely no longer require visas to travel to the United States by October of this year, as reported by the Romania Insider news site.

Romania is making strides toward joining the Visa Waiver Program, a significant milestone that would enable its citizens to travel to the United States visa-free for up to 90 days. The country considers this inclusion a vital national objective and is steadily progressing towards meeting the necessary technical requirements.