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Published By
U.S. Embassy Warsaw,
Consular Section

A Welcome to our Readers

Dear Readers:

Welcome to the spring 2004 edition of the Consular Chronicles. Consular affairs continue to play an important role in America’s bilateral and multilateral relations. Our efforts to secure America’s borders while keeping our doors open to legitimate visitors affect the lives of many around the world. This has been especially true in Poland.

Visas play a very important role in U.S.-Polish relations. During his recent visit to the White House, Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski spent almost all of a 30-minute bilateral meeting with President Bush discussing visas (see article, “Visas Dominate High Level Talks”).

Poles on the street, news reporters, and members of Parliament all talk about visas. The majority of Poles want to enjoy the privilege of visa-free travel to the U.S. Some Poles believe that visa-free travel automatically comes with NATO and European Union membership. This is not the case. Citizens of Greece and Turkey, founding members of NATO, still need visas. There are countries in the EU whose citizens need visas, such as Greece. There are countries that are not members of the EU or NATO, such as Switzerland, Japan, and Australia, whose citizens may travel to the U.S. without visas. Whether or not citizens of a given country can travel to the U.S. without a visa depends on criteria established by U.S. law.

Currently, 27 countries are part of the Visa Waiver Program. Their citizens do not need visas to travel the U.S. for visits as tourists or on business of up to 90 days. All foreign nationals require special visas and/or permits to work in the United States. Even citizens of countries that are eligible to enter the U.S. without a tourist visa must obtain a valid work visa in order to accept employment in the United States. No one entering on the Visa Waiver Program, and no one possessing only a tourist visa, is allowed to work in the United States.

Countries qualify for the Visa Waiver Program by meeting several criteria. U.S. law requires that no more than 3% of visa applicants for tourist visas from a country be refused during the fiscal year. It also places limits on the numbers of those who come on tourist visas and overstay them. Unfortunately, Poland meets neither criterion. (There are other technical criteria—such as passport security and law enforcement cooperation—that also need to be met.) The most certain path for Poland to qualify for the Visa Waiver Program would be for Poles to seek work in the U.S. only on visas which permit employment and to create the kind of domestic prosperity at home that would remove the impetus to work illegally abroad (see article, “Visa Denials”).

While visas remain a hot topic this year, they are not the most important issue of 2004. In November, Americans will choose our country’s leadership. In a democracy, one of the most important obligations of a citizen is to exercise his or her franchise. I strongly encourage each of you to learn as much about the issues as you can, and then choose a leader whom you feel would best represent your interests. These nonpartisan websites can help you learn more about the Presidential candidates and their stands on the issues:

http://www.ontheissues.org/default.htm

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/e4/dnet/?gridid=57361
http://politicalweb.info/2004/2004.html
http://www.e-democracy.org/us/

The long Polish winter seems to have finally passed. Visas and American politics (as well as Polish politics) are likely to warm up along with the weather. Enjoy the spring!

Sincerely,

Michael D. Kirby
Consul General

IN THIS ISSUE:

Welcome to our Readers || US-VISIT Comes Into Effect || Visa Denials Receiving Social Security Benefits Will Soon Be Easier || ELECTIONS 2004 Embassy Sees Many Applicants For Diversity Visas || Visas Dominate High Level Talks || Polish Students To Work In U.S. || Warsaw Hosts Consular Conference || How Can I Get Answers To My Consular Questions?