HOUSE IMMIGRATION SUBCOMMITTEE HOLDS HEARING ON VISA WAIVER PILOT PROGRAM

The Visa Waiver Pilot Program (VWPP) was created in 1986 as part of the Immigration Reform and Control Act.  It allows nationals of certain countries to enter the US for business or pleasure for up to 90 days without first obtaining a visa, if their country meets the following four requirements:

·        It must offer reciprocal privileges to US citizens

·        It must have had a nonimmigrant visa denial rate of less than three percent during the previous year

·        It must issue or be in the process of developing a machine readable visa

·        The Attorney General must certify that inclusion of the country in the VWPP will not be a threat to US law enforcement

There are currently 29 countries that participate in the program.  One of the primary focuses of this hearing was to consider the inclusion of Greece in the program.  Greece has been designated for participation, but has not yet met the requirements.  During the hearing, an official from the Clinton administration said that Greece would be allowed to join after it does, but this position was met with opposition from other witnesses.  A former diplomat stationed in Greece said it should not be allowed to join until it cracks down on a domestic terrorism group known as November 17.  Since 1975 this group has been responsible for the deaths of 21 people, including four US citizens. 

The VWPP will expire in April of this year unless it is reauthorized.  Given the popularity of the program, which is used by about 17 million people each year, it will likely be extended.  However, there are those who oppose the program, for two primary reasons.  First, the INS has been unable to develop a sufficient system to track people who overstay after entering on the VWPP.  Second, because a visa is not required for entry under the program, those who seek to enter the US illegally have targeted the passports of participating countries.