Integration of Israel into visa waiver program a priority, Mayorkas says
The U.S. Visa Waiver Program allows nationals of certain countries to travel to the United States for up to 90 days without a visa requirement.
More than 50 members of the US House of Representatives on Monday signed a letter urging the Biden administration to add Israel to the list of countries benefiting from the exemption program.
The letter was addressed to Secretary of State Antony Blinken as well as Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, reported on Wednesday. Times of Israel.
The visa issue has been the subject of several discussions in meetings between US and Israeli officials, and Mr. Mayorkas stressed that the integration of Israel into the exemption program was a priority.
Israel has wanted to join the visa waiver program for many years.
In the past, the Americans had justified their refusal to include Israel in the program by the fact that many Israelis arrived in the United States as tourists, only to stay there to work illegally.
On the Israeli side, the time has come for optimism, especially given the fact that Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Gilad Erdan, has made this issue a priority.
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