Sun, Nov 22 2009

United States lift visa requirements for Greeks

Mon, May 18 2009 13:25 CET byNick Iliev 3565 Views
United States lift visa requirements for Greeks

The parthenon, Athens  
Photo: Giorgos Karahalis

Greek citizens will no longer need a visa to visit the United States, starting from September 2009. Negotiations conducted between the Greek government and Washington have been finalised and an agreement has been reached, whereby starting this autumn, Greeks will be able to visit the US freely, Greek Kathimerini daily has reported.

A Washington spokesperson said that Greek head of state Karolos Papoulias and prime minister Kostas Karamanlis had expressed a desire to visit the White House.  During that visit, according to Kathimerini, documents are expected to be signed to seal the new travelling arrangements between the two countries.

The meeting could coincide with Greece's participation in the general assembly at the United Nations, set to commence on September 22.

During George Bush's presidency, the American stance towards Greece was very different. Bush had said that Greece did not fulfil requirements and could not be considered for a visa-free regime.

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Europe against US travel notification system

European resistance to a programme that requires visitors to the US to provide personal information online before travelling, was an unwelcome development, according to Michael Chertoff, the US homeland security secretary. The system, which will be used at airports and other major ports and terminals across the US becomes mandatory in January, requires all passengers from countries that do not need visas, which as yet does not include Bulgaria - but the country is expected to be admitted entry alongside Cyprus, Greece, Malta, Poland and Romania in a few months - to notify the US government 72 hours in advance.

Bulgaria signs interim agreement under visa waiver programme with the US

On June 17 2008, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin and US homeland security secretary Michael Chertoff inked in Washington an interim agreement under the visa waiver programme with the USA, the press service of the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Kalfin is part of the delegation accompanying Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev during his official June 14 - June 18 visit to the US.

BULGARIAN VISA PRICE 60 EURO

The price for issuing a visa to foreigners would be set at 60 euro, the Council of Ministers decided on December 27. Applications and processing of a long-term residency permit with a validity of up to six months would cost 100 leva, while a residency permit for up to one year would cost 200 euro. Taxes would not be levied for locals and foreigners where applicable under Bulgarian law or international agreements where Bulgaria was a party to the agreement, as well as at the proposal of management of diplomatic and consular representation abroad, in agreement with the Interior Ministry, a government media statement said.

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