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 turn out to be the newest nation — and first Gulf nation — to hitch the Visa Waiver Program, which permits sure foreigners to journey to the U.S. with out visas if their nations’ governments agree to reinforce safety and information-sharing preparations with Washington. The preparations with Qatar embrace the U.S. authorities getting access to passenger data and databases on critical criminals and identified or suspected terrorists, U.S. officers stated on a name with reporters.
Whereas American officers stated they’re nonetheless engaged on finalizing a selected date, visa-free journey to the U.S. for Qataris is about to start out 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 get pleasure from visa-free journey to the Gulf nation. However beginning on Oct. 1, they are going to be capable to keep there for as much as 90 days — as an alternative of the present 30-day restrict.
“Qatar’s success of the stringent safety necessities to hitch the Visa Waiver Program will deepen our strategic partnership and improve the circulation of individuals and commerce between our two nations,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated in a press release. “Qatar’s entry will make journey between the USA 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.