Updated: Malta joins US Visa Waiver Programme
(Adds details)
Malta has been admitted to the US visa waiver programme (VWP), Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and US Ambassador Molly Bordonaro announced this afternoon.
Membership comes into force on December 30.
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 after talks which involved the US Department of Homeland Security.
Malta started introducing biometric passports in October in what was an important element for admission to the programme.
The Visa Waiver Programme was introduced in 1986 with the aim of facilitating tourism and short term business visits to the United States. It includes 34 countries.
Dr Gonzi said this was an important milestone in the relationship between the two countries. The significance of this agreement was enormous from an economic point of view and showed Malta was a safe jurisdiction.
Rather than applying for a visa, visitors to the US would now have to fill in an online form, called ESTA, by up to 72 hours before travelling. An information campaign will be held.
Ms Bordonaro said this programme facilitated travel between the two countries and would only serve to strengthen the excellent relations between the two countries. She said that commercial ties had consistently grown stronger in the three years she has been ambassador.
She said that the Visa Waiver Programme and the double taxation agreement signed in August meant that the way was open for even stronger commercial exchanges between the two countries.
The US Embassy in a statement said Malta’s entry into the Visa Waiver Programme does not mean that visas will go away entirely. Maltese citizens who already hold a valid visa for the United States can continue to travel using that visa. In addition, persons who wish to travel to the U.S. for a period of more than 90 days or for a purpose other than tourism or business, such as to study or to work, will still need to apply for a visa at the U.S. Embassy.
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Melissa Bagley
Dec 24th 2008, 00:33
@ Peter Murray
You have every right to air your views. As a Maltese-American, I believe in the right to free speech....let's just hope that that "free speech" is worth listening or reading.
Your quote: Who wants to go there anyway?
Peter, thousands upon thousands of people risk their lives to go there - every year. There must be some magnetism there.....You don't sound like a person who has been there, or else you wouldn't be typing such things.
Your quote: They should be grateful we allow them to have an embassy here!
Yes, of course we need a US embassy here, for both Americans and Maltese. Just like the Maltese need consulates while they are in the US.
Antoine Zammit
Dec 23rd 2008, 15:56
As a Maltese American I am very thrilled with this news. There are thousands of us Maltese living here and love to get visitors from Malta. This of course makes it easier for family and friends.
One more comment about the US. This is a great country, she has welcomed me with open arms and gave me the same opportunities it gives others who were born here.
I am proud of Maltese heritage and I am also proud of be an American, needless to say I feel very blessed to be a Maltese-American.
Anthony Sammt
Dec 23rd 2008, 10:42
Why is it that we always have to consider the glass as half empty instead of half full?
This is good news as it sends a very positive message by our long time friends, yes the USA.
Mr Abel Abela, prosit on your comment.
Mr Peter Murry, your comment must have been written without even trying to consider the positive message being sent our friends.
Ms. Bordinaro, thank you for your efforts on this and on the immigration issue etc. I hope that your appointment in Malta will continue for much longer.
Happy Christmas to all
R. Borg Ellul Vincenti
Dec 23rd 2008, 10:13
@Abel Abela
Positive or not, the question arises whether the net effect is paying more or the same amount of money to the Maltese passport office instead of the US embassy. I personally see the requirement of biometric passports a futile attempt using technology to move an agenda against the US war on terror. Biometric passports have already been defeated according to technology journals.
Without wanting to sound alarmist, it could be used as yet another tool for the big brother. I don't have a problem about that. I have a problem with respect to the people/orgranizations with access to that system.
Ann Fenech
Dec 23rd 2008, 09:12
Ms Mangion,
If I were you I would ask when I was there about that, and ask where the chip was etc etc, to be sure. I have looked over my passport repeatedly but there doesn't seem to be any visible chip anywhere. If you get a reply, do post here for the rest of us!
Abel Abela
Dec 23rd 2008, 08:51
We have to mumble about everything, haven't we? do you lot realize the positive signal the US visa waiver programme sends out about a country to the rest of the world?
Vania Lamanna
Dec 23rd 2008, 07:54
Mid September I applied for a new passport in Rome-3 weeks before the news was broken about the Visa waiver program! No one mentioned anything when I was applying, so now I have a non-biometric passport which I will again need to change if I want to travel to the USA (getting a new passport still being easier than applying for a US visa in Rome!). I am glad to see Malta is finally getting some recognition for the support we give the USA. About time!I wonder if it will have the full allowances etc other countries do though...
Claire Mangion
Dec 22nd 2008, 22:29
what?? I have a Maltese passport but I live in England. I am on holiday in Malta and the first thing I did was to change my passport as I want to travel to the US next year and I wanted the biometric passport just in case we went in the Visa Waiver Programme.
I am going to pick the passport tomorrow. And it might not still be good enough???
PETER MURRAY
Dec 22nd 2008, 22:09
What should we be grateful for?This visa waiver should have come into force when we joined the EU and the argument that this could only be effected through possessing a biometric passport is nonsense-for they didn't exist back then!This is a clear example of a major(once)power exercising a condesending demeanour and bestowing a purported favour on a perceived minion.Who wants to go there anyway?They should be grateful we allow them to have an embassy here!
John Pisani
Dec 22nd 2008, 21:18
The new Biometric passport can be identified by a small chip that is on the front cover of the new passports. So Ms Fenech and Mr Mifsud if your passports don't have that small gold chip on the cover and you paid €72, then you were robbed. Now if I'm not mistaken in the near future there is a plan for other new passports which include finger prints. It is with these passports that the visa to the USA will be totally waived off. Oh by the way the chances are that the new passport with the fingerprints would cost more then €72 and we still have to wait to see what will it be called - TAX or TARIFF????
Anthony A. Mifsud
Dec 22nd 2008, 18:38
Dear Ms. Fenech, It's only the money that counts, I for one changes passports every 11 to 12 months and so far I haven't seen these Boimetric passports, I only seen € 72 flying out of my pocket.
Thanks Austin
Tony
R. Borg Ellul Vincenti
Dec 22nd 2008, 17:16
Does the Waiver Programme cover people using the old passport?
If not, how much does it cost to get a new passport compared to applying for a VISA to the US?
C Chircop
Dec 22nd 2008, 16:53
An excellent sign-off by Ambassador Bordanaro, who is to be credited for her work in ensuring that Malta got admitted into the VWP by the end of this year!
Ann Fenech
Dec 22nd 2008, 16:46
Have the passports actually produced since October been biometric? I just got a new passport in the beginning of December but there doesn't seem to be any chip in it, especially after seeing its obvious position in the UK passports. Tried to confirm but no reply as yet from the passport office...