US Visa Waiver Programs to Have Tighter Restrictions

The legislation would also restrict travel into the US by foreign travelers who have visited Iraq, Syria, Iran or Sudan since 1 March 2011 without first attaining a visa.

The overwhelming vote in favor of the bill comes after the House easily voted to approve a multi-year highway bill and legislation to rewrite the No Child Left Behind education law. If any of the 38 countries fail to share information with the U.S., the Department of Homeland Security would be required to remove that country from the program.

Congressman Fred Upton: "This bill strengthens the security of our visa waiver program so that we protect our national security and enhance our safety".

The Syrian refugee bill, which the administration said was unnecessary because the small number of Syrian refugees are already extensively screened, has not gone anywhere in the Senate and looks unlikely to advance.

Just 47 Democrats joined 242 Republicans who voted for it and President Barack Obama, a Democrat, promised a veto.

Action on the visa waiver program is one of several issues Obama called for Congress to accomplish in his Oval Office speech Sunday night.

The White House-backed bill was proposed because the Paris attackers could have travelled to the US without a visa.

"If they visited in the last five years, then they would have to go through the normal visa screening process, instead of the visa waiver process", explains Marc Rosenblum, deputy director of the Migration Policy Institute's US Immigration Policy Program. "This could mean that a second tier of American citizens, including Iranian Americans, would be forced to apply for a visa to travel to many nations in Europe and other eligible countries". Included in his proposal was to require e-passports with biometric information for all travelers to the U.S.to minimize the chances of forgery.

"This legislation will help close gaping security gaps and improve our ability to stop dangerous individuals before they reach our shores", said Republican Rep. Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. But the Senate bill is different and could keep it from getting done in time.

But, the procedure takes considerably more and U.S. government officials say foreigners using from Iraq and Syria are given added examination.

About 20 million visitors come to the United States each year for business or tourism under the program, largely from European countries.

 

Keeping the United States safe from terrorists has been on many people's minds following recent attacks.