During the week of April 13, a team of U.S. subject matter experts is scheduled to visit the Republic of Cyprus for a technical review. This visit is part of an evaluation to assess whether Cyprus meets the necessary security requirements for entry into the United States Visa Waiver Program (VWP).
The VWP aims to enhance security and strengthen economic ties by allowing lawful travel to the U.S. "Participation in the program provides tangible benefits to enhance economic and commercial ties and helps make international travel safer for all," affirms the press release. The program allows eligible citizens from designated countries to travel to the U.S. for tourism or business for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa.
Qualification for the VWP is restricted to countries with low nonimmigrant visa refusal rates, secure travel documents, and collaboration with U.S. law enforcement and national security. "The interagency team’s visit to Cyprus is a step in the U.S. Government’s established process for evaluating whether the Republic of Cyprus meets the requirements for VWP designation," states the release.