Last Wednesday, Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski and U.S. President George W. Bush met to discuss a "road map" that is to become the basis for changes in visa legislation towards Polish nationals. After Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited Warsaw last week, the hope of Poland joining the Visa Waiver Program was revived. The program enables citizens of 27 countries, mostly Western European, to travel as tourists to the United States without obtaining a visa. A day before President Kwasniewski’s visit, however, an American official who wished to remain anonymous poured cold water over the idea of Poland joining the Visa Waiver Program. He stated that until Poland meets certain requirements, there is no chance its citizens will be exempt from the obligation to have a visa in order to enter the United States. To qualify, no more than 3% of visa applications from a country can be rejected.
When asked about the visa issue, President Bush recalled the so called "road map,” which is supposed guide Poland into the Visa Waiver Program, but he did not give any further details. He merely stated that the U.S. visa policy has been under review and there is now "a way forward to make trips to America easier for Polish citizens.” He also said that he "adopts the principles and accepts the recommendations of the ‘road map.’ And that it will become the basis for legislation in Congress" to ease U.S. visa restrictions on Polish nationals.
President Bush also told the Polish leader he would ask Congress for $100 million to help modernize the country's armed forces. "Poland is a fantastic ally. Poles love freedom and I am sure they look at the victory in Iraq with a lot of enthusiasm," said President Bush.
Kwasniewski said his country is "full of optimism" about Iraq and "the successful conclusion of our mission." He also said he was happy about America’s contacts with European nations. When talking with the press after the meeting with President Bush, Kwasniewski said that the visa issue is not the most important one in the bilateral relationship. He emphasized that the work on the "road map" continues and its goal is to reach Poland in the system of visa waivers. He declined giving any details until the initiative is considered by the U.S. Congress. He also appealed to the media to help make Polish citizens "accept the rules" of U.S. visa regulations: "The key is not to stay illegally in the United States.” According to President Kwasniewski there would be no problem to do away with visas if no more than 3 percent of U.S. visa applications filed by Poles would be rejected.
According to Kwasniewski, Poland does not qualify for the Visa Waiver Program mainly because Polish citizens overstay their visas and also commit offences such as not paying subway fares or ignoring tickets for speeding.
