Government hopeful of Taiwan’s inclusion in the US Visa Waiver Program

Taiwan, 17th December: Taiwanese government has made the nation’s inclusion in the US Visa Waiver Program a priority for the coming year.

According to an official representative of Taiwan to the US, the government is very hopeful that the US will consider Taiwan an eligible candidate its inclusion to the US ESTA program.

The government of Taiwan will sign three new agreements with the US government in the year 2011.

According to Jason Yuan, the official representative of Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative office in Washington, the de facto embassy of Taiwan to the US, the US Department of State has suggested that both nations must sign three agreements paving the way for inclusion of Taiwan in the US VWP (Visa Waiver Program).  

He stated that the three agreements between both the nations to be signed next year will relate to the exchange of information on terrorists, exchange of information on counterfeit or stolen passports and collaboration on controlling major crime.

Yuan stated that the recommendations were made by the US during an earlier meeting in Washington a few days ago between the US DHS (Department of Homeland Security) and the Office of Homeland Security of Taiwan.

He expressed confidence that Taiwan will be included in the US VWP after it is listed by America in the roadmap process of Visa Waiver.

Findings of a recent study revealed that the rejection rate of the US visa applications from Taiwan was less than 3 percent for the past one year. And this has increased the likelihood of Taiwan’s getting qualified in the VWP since such a low rejection rate and less number of overstaying cases are considered to be basic requirements for participation in the US visa waiver program, Yuan maintained.

Earlier last month, visa-free privileges were granted to Taiwan by the EU (European Union). This will allow holders of Taiwan passports to visit the European nations without having a visa with effect from January 2011. And Taiwanese nationals will be permitted to live in the EU for a maximum period of up to 90 days in six-month time under the visa exemption scheme.

Beginning March next year, Taiwan will start testing new procedures for visa applicants requiring them to complete their applications for passport in person.