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Slovaks Gain Visa Free US Entry

On October 28 in Bratislava Secretary of Homeland Security Chertoff and Slovak Interior Minister Kalinak announced the expansion of the Visa Waiver Program to include citizens and nationals of the Slovak Republic. The program was also extended to the Czech Republic, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and South Korea. Visa free travel for Slovaks begins on November 17, the 19th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution. In making the announcement, Secretary Chertoff recalled the significance of October 28 and November 17 in Czech and Slovak history and termed the admission of Slovakia into the program a symbol of the shared respect for freedom of our two countries.

As agreed with the Slovak authorities, travelers benefiting from the Visa Waiver Program will need a biometric passport, an electronic travel authorization (ESTA) and the trip must be for 90 days or less.

US and Slovak representatives worked long and hard to bring Slovakia into the program. Friends of Slovakia strongly supported this effort as well as the entry of other qualified Central European countries. The issue was a major agenda item during October 9 talks between President Bush and President Gasparovic in Washington. Last year FOS co-sponsored with the Center for Security and International Studies and American Friends of the Czech Republic a well attended Forum for Congressional staffers on the issue addressed by speakers from Homeland Security, the State Department and the Center for European Policy Analysis.