Mirek Topolánek and Michael Chertoff

The USA Abolishes Visas For The Czechs

After a meeting with Michael Chertoff, the US secretary of homeland security, Czech prime minister Mirek Topolánek announced that starting from November 17, 2008 the Czech citizens won’t need an entry visa for visiting the USA. This US visa-waiver program also includes the citizens of Hungary, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia and South Korea.

This action equates citizens of the above mentioned countries with the rest of Western Europe in their rights for visa-free traveling. Mr. Chertoff said on this account: "I regard this as a big step forward. Everyone is now assessed according to the same criteria." So now the Czechs can save about CZK 2,000 (USD 100) that they have had to pay to the embassy for processing their documents and issuing a visa.

After November 17 instead of queueing in front of the US embassy doors, those Czechs who want to visit the USA as tourists for a maximum of three months and own biometric passports will have to fill in an online registration form and wait for the embassy’s response. Although guest workers, students and other kinds of visitors who need 90+ days of stay will still need to apply for a visa.

Photo: Czech PM Mirek Topolánek (left) with US Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff (by CTK)

Date: 29/10/2008