Today, Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27), member of the Committee on Homeland Security, will help introduce the “Secure Travel and Counterterrorism Partnership Act,” legislation authored by Rep. Mike Quigley of Illinois to update and modernize the Department of Homeland Security’s Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and its requirements, a move that would grant Poland eligibility to participate.
“With decades as a great and consistent European ally to the U.S., it is time that we give Poland the recognition it deserves by affording many of the same rights as other Western European countries,” said Congressman Higgins, member of the Congressional Poland Caucus. “Better yet, including Poland in the Visa Waiver Program encourages information sharing with the U.S., which enhances our national security and helps to keep our country safe.”
The legislation would make the primary qualifying criteria for VWP participation a low overstay rate—set at less than 3 percent of foreign nationals who remain in the United States after their visa expires. Current practice uses the visa refusal rate, but experts agree this is an outdated measure that is less relevant to U.S. security, law enforcement, or contribution to rates of illegal immigration. These changes would update our standards and would also allow Poland to qualify for the VWP.
“On my trip to Poland last year, I saw firsthand Poland’s commitment to democracy and importance as our ally,” said Congressman Mike Quigley (IL-05), who introduced the legislation. "I’ve been working since the day I took office for Poland’s inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program because it’s essential for both our diplomacy and our national security.”
Currently, citizens of 36 foreign nations are eligible to participate in VWP, which allows foreign visitors to travel to the United States for up to 90 days without a visa. Despite nearly a century-long of diplomatic relations with the United States, Poland currently is one of the few European nations to be excluded from the VWP. The Polish government repealed its visa requirement for U.S. citizens traveling to Poland in 1991. Furthermore, Poland has demonstrated its commitment to continued, sustainable, and democratic growth by joining the North American Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1999 and the European Union in 2004. Additionally, the country participates in the “Schengen Area,” made up of 25 European nations that allow passport-free travel across borders.
In his December 2010 meeting with Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski, President Barack Obama said he would make Poland’s admission into the VWP a “priority,” and he pledged to complete that process expeditiously.
No new nations have been added to the U.S. program since 2008, when Greece joined. The nations of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovakia and South Korea also are among the VWP’s newest members.
The program’s security standards include sharing security-related information with the United States and the timely reporting of lost or stolen passports. VWP participants also are required to maintain enhanced counterterrorism, law enforcement, border control, and document security standards.
A complete list of the 36 nations that currently participate in the VWP is available at http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/content_multi_image_0021.shtm#4.
Over 106,000 residents in Congressman Higgins’ district and more than 9 million Americans nationwide are of Polish ancestry. Higgins has been an actively involved in Polish-American issues including:
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