By Michael Milligan
WASHINGTON -- The State Department removed Argentina from the
Visa Waiver Program, which allows visitors from 28 qualifying
countries to enter the U.S. for up to 90 days without a visa,
because the rate of visitors from Argentina over staying their
visas has increased since the country's economy collapsed.
After spending several months reviewing the situation in
Argentina, the State Department said it decided to exercise "an
emergency termination" of its participation in the visa
program.
"The Department of Justice, in consultation with the Department
of State, has concluded that Argentina's participation in the VWP
is no longer compatible with the enforcement of immigration laws of
the U.S.," the department said.
While the Visa Waiver Program is reciprocal, there were no
indications that Argentina would impose a visa requirement on
visiting Americans.
"It is up to the Argentine government," said a spokesman in the
State Dept.'s Consular Affairs office. "Thus far, I don't see
anything that indicates they are going to do that."
The spokesman said it is possible that Argentina could apply to
rejoin the Visa Waiver Program once its economic conditions
improve.
The Travel Industry Association, meanwhile, said it "fully
supports" the State Department's decision, but expressed "hope"
that the country could eventually rejoin the program.
"As the 11th ranked country in terms of inbound travel to the
U.S., they remain an important tourism trade partner," said William
Norman, president and chief executive officer of TIA, which has
been a longtime proponent of the visa program.
"While TIA regrets the temporary removal of any of the Visa
Waiver Program countries, we fully support this action. It is our
hope that with improved economic and political conditions,
Argentina will be reinstated," Norman said.
Countries still participating in the Visa Waiver Program include
Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland,
France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein,
Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal,
San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the
U.K., and Uruguay.
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Watch for further developments and reaction in a future issue
of Travel Weekly.