US team visiting Cyprus to assess eligibility for Visa Waiver Program

07:46 - 14 April 2025

Current Affairs Reporter

A US interagency team is visiting Cyprus this week to conduct a technical review of the country’s security procedures, as part of the ongoing evaluation process for potential inclusion in the United States Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

The visit was announced in a press release, issued on Sunday, 13 April by the US Embassy in Cyprus, while US Ambassador Julie S. Davis also shared the news on the platform X.

According to the US Embassy in Nicosia, the team of subject matter experts will assess security processes and operations in the Republic of Cyprus. The evaluation is part of the established US government process to determine whether a country meets the VWP’s requirements.

According to the US Embassy in Nicosia, the VWP is “a security partnership that makes America safer, stronger, and more prosperous by facilitating lawful travel to the United States.” Participation in the program, the press release adds, provides tangible benefits to enhance economic and commercial ties and helps make international travel safer for all.

The program enables eligible citizens of designated countries to travel to the US for tourism or business for up to 90 days without a visa.

Participation in the program is limited to countries that meet strict criteria, including low non-immigrant visa refusal rates, the issuance of secure travel documents, and strong cooperation with US law enforcement, national security, and immigration authorities.

The Embassy's announcement also notes that the interagency team’s visit to Cyprus is a step in the US Government’s established process for evaluating whether the Republic of Cyprus meets the requirements for VWP designation.

(Sources: CNA, X)

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