Americans should issue more visas and Poles should not overstay their visas. This will lead us to joining the Visa Waiver Program, Polish Foreign Affairs Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said after meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Clinton promised to review visa regulations for Poles.
At the meeting with Clinton, Sikorski pointed out that Poland is the only country in the Schengen Agreement [signed in 1985 by five member states of the European community to form a passport-free travel zone] whose citizens still have to apply for visas before entering the United States.
"I had a feeling this fact exerted a huge impression on the Secretary of State. She promised to recommend to U.S. consulates that they take a closer look at the visa procedures for the Polish people," the minister said at a press conference with Polish correspondents in Washington. "In my conversation with the Secretary of State, I described the way the system works: With more visas issued by the American consulates, fewer applications will be turned down. This, in turn, increases our chances of being included in the Visa Waiver Program. Americans should issue more visas, and Polish people should respect American immigration law and refrain from staying past the time described by their visa status," the minister said.
Sikorski suggested that U.S. authorities could issue more visas for Polish citizens by changing the internal policy, which would allow Poland to be included in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).
An official requirement for countries wishing to join the VWP is that less than 10 percent of visa applications be denied.
Currently, the level of denials by American consulates in Poland is at 13 percent.
Thursday's meeting between the Polish minister and the chief of American diplomacy renewed the dialogue on Polish-American strategy that will continue at lower levels of both administrations.
Sikorski also met with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to discuss the 24 armed vehicles that the United States is to give Polish troops in Afghanistan.
At a press conference, Clinton highlighted the importance of the Polish-American friendship and alliance, and praised the determination and strength of the Polish nation after the tragic plane crash near Smolensk in Russia.
She strongly denied speculation that the Obama administration is less interested in European issues than previous administrations. "There is no reason to believe otherwise. There is no electorate in the United States that would support moving away from an alliance with Europe," she assured.
