Thursday, 4th September 2008 - 10:29CET
Malta may be in US visa waiver programme by end of year
Malta may be joining the US visa waiver programme (VWP) by the end of this year following the introduction of biometric passports, expected in October.
A spokesman for the US Embassy in Malta told timesofmalta.com that "excellent progress" in talks has been made and the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security has expressed hope that several EU countries would be able to join the programme by the end of this year.
This programme was initiated over 20 years ago and last expanded in 1999. After President George Bush announced his intention to expand the programme in 2006, the US government has been working with several countries, many of them in the EU, to bring them into the programme.
A memorandum of understanding for Malta's participation in the programme was signed between the US and the Justice and Home Affairs Ministry last April 11.
Since then, the government and embassy officials have been working to ensure Malta's compliance with the various criteria for VWP. These include a number of security and documentary factors, including biometric passports as a requirement. "Significant progress has been made, and we continue to work towards our shared goal of having Malta enter the VWP once the programme is expanded to include new countries," the spokesman said.
Asked whether an agreement with Malta was dependent on an agreement with the EU, the spokesman said that the US and EU had adopted a "twin track" approach to VWP negotiations - the European Commission negotiates directly with the EU on matters of EU responsibility and individual member states negotiate those issues under their responsibility on a bilateral basis.
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Comments
Get a life and get out of your little fantasy World.
Reading thoroughly through the comment thread, I've came to the conclusion that most of the opinions here make no sense at all.
I've been to USA, its an amazing place, but I can say that, because I've actually been there unlike most of you super smart conspiracy buffs.
Your opinions should be on the lines of:
" eh I heard a lot of bad things about America, but I don't know, because furthest I went is Comino Durr!!"
Thank you.
The visa waiver saves time and money at the departing end.
The so called "hassles" at the arriving end are measures to increase the security level for everyone. (It is never hard for crime syndicates to forge a passport, no matter what.) If only the Maltese government were a responsible government and did the same at the MIA.
From experience, American people are some of the nicest people one can ever hope to bump into.
They are not perfect (like we Maltese!!!) but they are putting their kids in the front line to allow people like us to roam around in a free world. People supporting Muslims may not agree to this but it’s the reality.
Maltese people should be grateful to USA.
Another issue – From my understanding from October onwards new type of passports will be issued. Does this mean that we have to change our currant valid passports or they can me amended?
If I have a Visa, issued in a country that is a member of the EU, do I really need to be patted down by some stranger?
Who knew a 17 year old girl could look so threatening?
Yes, all my sentences just ended in question marks, except for this one. :)
The press pours out crap about terrorism and poeple surrender more of their liberties in return for securtiy... when the terror threat is really the same as it ever was!
Watch anything on TV and you will see that its not fashionable to be knowledgeable anymore, but rather, all that matters is what she wore last night and what he said to her and what colour dress that other girl was wearing... i.e. utter garbage!
Enjoy your blind trip to the United States.
As for comments "hating Americains is racist", well in America it is your right to hate.
Malta was not included in the VWP when it was introduced in the early 90s due to the abysmal relations Malta had with the US at the time. Does the name Ali Resaq ring a bell?
IWe too critiicze the US where we dont agree with its policies or its way of doing things. Like ourselves, Americans too chalk that down to free speech.
Visa waiver will bring Maltese and Americans closer together. It wil be good for personal holiday travel and it will be good for more direct business contacts. If one has nothing to hide about one's personal details one has no reason to kick up a fuss. Why are some of us so suspicious of everyone else?
D. Bezzina Miami
the first honest comment so far !!
@ Bill Millam
I have something may interest you:
Many serious world problems are western design.
On Friday, 14th December 2007 MEP Dr. John Attard Montalto wrote a factual article that may interest those who seriously wish to be aware of the core problem of Africa. Here I quote a paragraph - (The scramble for Africa has started all over again. In the colonial period, European nation-states competed between themselves. After World War II, the US permitted Europe to continue to dominate the continent, on the reckoning that the boost to the European economies would boost trade with the US itself.)
In today’s language this is called economic terrorism!
@ David Mifsud
What about the nuclear bomb?
What about millions of peoples killed or displaced in Vietnam - Japan - Iraq?
What about environment pollution and climate changes?
What about supporting terrorism (Israel)?
What about cultivating drugs in Afghanistan under the pretext of war against terrorism?
Aren’t these ‘great’ things too?
If it wasn't for the good old US of A, Europe would be under Nazi rule today.
Millions of US citizens lost their lives so that Europeans can live in freedom.
And don't forget the Marshall plan which lifted entire countries out of poverty
and misery, amongst other things.
Fast forward to today, when you guys have 19 Arab, Muslim terrorists highjack
a few AirMalta planes and slam them into highrises with the resultant
loss of thousands of lives, then you have earned the right to speak about
why the US does certain.
And who does the world call to for aid/assistance/defense when problems arise?
Bill Millam
Los Angeles
Yes, incredible how the same things cost less in the USA than in a tiny hole like Malta!
But don’t get sick, because they don’t have (Mater Dejns) and they’ll make pay through your nose!
Of course! There's
1. The Big Mac
2. Dallasty
3. Coke
4. Mickey Mouse
5. Agent Orange
6. XXXL sizes
No seriously. They're great ! It's just that they can also be great pains!
If you want to go to the US go. If you do not, don't.
A visa costs about €90 to enter the US right now. So now, for a family of 4 traveling to the US for a Disney Holiday, business or to visit family or friends it will going to be a saving of €360. For those skeptics below, ............... this is a good thing.
As for the merits of a US visit, well that is for the individual to enjoy. If only to do shopping here are a few examples. Adult bike US €66 - same bike in Malta €240, Digital Camera US €160 - same camera in Malta €350.....the list goes on. 4 double bedroom villa 15 min drive from Disneyworld, with a pool, €66 a night - Gozo..........€120???. Magic Kingdom vs Popeye's village ..?? Meeting Micky Mouse....priceless.
I would never live in the US, but a holiday destination....amazing.
What do I care is they want my fingerprint, photo or even DNA. Got nothing to hide.
Often we forget the great contributions the USA made to the world. Had it not been for the USA during WWII things would have been different.
Let us not forget September 11th. That was a universal tragedy and even a small country like Malta has a role to play in the fight against terrorism. The finger printing and, perhaps the apparent American arrogance is the result of that day and the efforts to witness never again such human horror.
I will visit the USA in my right as a Maltese. I will gladly have my data recorded because ultemetly it is also in my protection. If only in Europe we have the determination and resolve of the USA. Just think Russia invades Georgia and Europe emerges divided and timid to take a stand - Europe does not even agree on a free trade agreement because it wants to protect French wines from georgian competition! How sad is that! And we continue to talk about energy security!
Don't be close minded! I've been to the USA 4 times and its the best holiday one ever can get! Its another world and has nothing to do with Europe. we are nothing compared to them.
This invasion of privacy is outrageous, we do not need biometric passports as much as we dont need RF ID transmitters implanted in our skin. This is the stuff Dystopian novels are made of!
The Visa Waver does not guarantee entry to USA.
It only means that you can get on a USA bound airoplane without a visa.
When you arrive you will still be interviewed as to what you are doing there,how much money you have to spend, do you have a job to come back to in Malta, Fingerprints and photos taken etc.
IF they dont like the look of you ...You will be denied entry and sent back to Malta.