A brand new association will quickly enable Americans to go to the Gulf nation of Qatar for longer intervals of time and provides Qataris entry to visa-free journey to the U.S. for tourism or enterprise functions, the Biden administration introduced Tuesday.
Qatar will grow to be the newest nation — and first Gulf nation — to affix the Visa Waiver Program, which permits sure foreigners to journey to the U.S. with out visas if their nations’ governments agree to boost safety and information-sharing preparations with Washington. The preparations with Qatar embrace the U.S. authorities having access to passenger data and databases on critical criminals and identified or suspected terrorists, U.S. officers mentioned on a name with reporters.
Whereas American officers mentioned they’re nonetheless engaged on finalizing a selected date, visa-free journey to the U.S. for Qataris is ready to begin earlier than December.
As a part of the association, the federal government in Doha will enable American vacationers to remain longer in Qatar. American vacationers and enterprise vacationers already take pleasure in visa-free journey to the Gulf nation. However beginning on Oct. 1, they may be capable of keep there for as much as 90 days — as a substitute of the present 30-day restrict.
“Qatar’s achievement of the stringent safety necessities to affix the Visa Waiver Program will deepen our strategic partnership and improve the circulate of individuals and commerce between our two nations,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned in a press release. “Qatar’s entry will make journey between america and Qatar safer, safer, and simpler for each Individuals and Qataris.”
The Visa Waiver Program applies to nationals of 42 nations, most of them U.S. allies in Europe. Whereas it permits residents of these nations to journey to the U.S. with out visas, this system’s individuals are nonetheless screened by American officers earlier than being permitted to enter the nation.
Qatar could be the third nation added to this system below the Biden administration, which has additionally made Croatia and Israel a part of the initiative.Â
