(Image source from: US stringent Visa norms after Paris attacks})

The United States of America on Thursday announced some amendments to stringent its ‘Visa Waiver Program’ that would make harder to visit United Stated for the citizens of some European countries. According to the changes,  it will become difficult to travel to US from Europe, if you have dual citizenship from Iran, Iraq, Sudan or Syria or you had visited one of those countries in the last five years.

The move is in the wake of terrorist attacks in Paris during November 13, last year. At least 130 people were killed and 368 left injured in the attacks. All attackers belonged from European countries, so, some lawmakers and counterterrorism officials are in concern,  if they exploit the visa-waiver program and travel to the country for some terrorist activity.

The Department of Homeland Security announced that, the changes will be imposed immediately. Now, visitors will need to follow more rigorous regular visa application process.There is around 38 nations Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and United Kingdom,  come under the US visa-waiver program. The program permits their citizens to travel the US without a visa for trips of 90 days or less. Each year, the program is being used by nearly 20 million tourists

C. Stewart Verdery Jr., an official at the Department of Homeland Security during the administration of George W. Bush, said that, “Not all countries were in compliance with the requirements that they have the proper documents, share information or identify risky passengers.”

“They would just have to go through the additional steps of getting and paying for a visa. This will only affect a small percentage of people. Besides, the visa-waiver program is a privilege, not a right,” he added.

Michael McCaul, Republican of Texas and chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, and Candice Miller, Republican of Michigan, said that, “All waivers announced by the White House were explicitly rejected by Congress during our negotiations with the administration.”

Nandini