United States Includes Qatar in Visa Exemption Program
The United States has announced that Qatar has become the first Arab and Gulf country to be included in their visa exemption program. This decision allows Qatari citizens to travel to the United States for tourism or business stays of up to 90 days without needing a visa. The exemption will come into effect no later than December 1st.
The announcement was made by the US Departments of Homeland Security and State.
The visa exemption program requires comprehensive security partnerships between the US and eligible countries. Among the criteria are:
- Combating terrorism
- Enforcing laws
- Securing travel documents
- Managing borders
One of the main criteria is that the visa refusal rate for non-immigrant travelers from the country must be less than 3% of travelers in the previous fiscal year.
Additionally, the country must issue secure travel documents, ensure that there are no legal obstacles preventing holders of these documents from traveling, and offer reciprocal benefits for the entry of American citizens, without distinction of origin, religion, race, or gender.
