s***a
发帖数: 861 | 1 US hints at possible visit visa waiver scheme for Taiwan
22 November 2011
The US Department of State may add Taiwan as a candidate for the United
States Visa-Waiver Program (VWP) by next month, according to Taiwan's
Foreign Minister Timothy Yang.
Senior US officials have recently expressed "positive" messages that Taiwan
may qualify as a VWP candidate by the end of this year.
"In recent dialogue with us, their high-level officials have been very
positive about Taiwan becoming a VWP candidate this year," said Yang.
The VWP enables nationals of participating countries to travel to the US for
tourism or business for up to 90 days without having to apply for a visit
visa at the local US Embassy or Consulate. The program was established to
eliminate unnecessary barriers to foreigners traveling to the US. In order
to be eligible, travelers are required to have a valid authorization through
the Electronic System for Travel Authorization prior to travel, hold a
valid passport, and be screened at the port of entry into the US to be
checked against watch lists to prevent criminals from entering the country.
According to Yang, Taiwan is close to achieving the requirements of the VWP:
The U.S. visa rejection rate is below 3 percent;
Taiwan now issues biometric passports to its citizens
There is a mandatory in-person passport application procedure for first-time
applicants
Additionally, Taiwan signed an agreement with the US promising to exchange
information on lost and stolen passports.
The only issue that remains to be resolved, he said, was wording in
agreements on the exchange of anti-terrorism and criminal information. VWP
members are required to enter into an agreement with the US to share
information regarding whether a national of that country traveling to the US
represents a threat to US security or welfare.
To be admitted to the Visa Waiver Program, a country must meet various
security related requirements:
Enhanced law enforcement.
security-related data sharing with the United States.
Timely reporting of both blank and issued lost and stolen passports.
VWP members are also required to maintain high counter-terrorism, law
enforcement, border control, and document security standards, according to
the US Department of State.
Yang, however, would not set a more specific timetable for when the US would
make a final decision to allow Taiwan to participate in the VWP, saying
that he hopes the goal could be reached as soon as possible.
Once Taiwan has been put on the VWP candidate list, a delegation of US
Department of Homeland Security officials will visit the country to
determine whether local practices and procedures meet US standards.
Following a successful report from Homeland Security, Taiwan can be included
in the VWP.
Currently, 36 countries participate in the Visa Waiver Program including the
UK, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, France, and Germany. | L*****G
发帖数: 12375 | 2 路人皆知的事情，不需要更多证据吧。
【在 s***a 的大作中提到】
: US hints at possible visit visa waiver scheme for Taiwan
: 22 November 2011
: The US Department of State may add Taiwan as a candidate for the United
: States Visa-Waiver Program (VWP) by next month, according to Taiwan's
: Foreign Minister Timothy Yang.
: Senior US officials have recently expressed "positive" messages that Taiwan
: may qualify as a VWP candidate by the end of this year.
: "In recent dialogue with us, their high-level officials have been very
: positive about Taiwan becoming a VWP candidate this year," said Yang.
: The VWP enables nationals of participating countries to travel to the US for
| s***a
发帖数: 861 | 3 Agree
其实大家都懂的。。。
【在 L*****G 的大作中提到】
: 路人皆知的事情，不需要更多证据吧。
| h******8
发帖数: 3778 | |
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