Latest News
Israel, US Sign Last Agreement For Visa Waiver Program
The last necessary agreement for Israel to join the US Visa Waiver Program was signed on Thursday morning by Public Security Minister; Omer Bar Lev and US Deputy Ambassador to Israel Jonathan Shrier and witnessed by Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked.
This means that Israelis will be able to visit the United States without a visa beginning in 2023 but before Israel can enter the US Visa Waiver Program, the deal has to pass three readings in Knesset.
As part of the agreement, both countries will be allowed to check fingerprints from each other’s country’s citizens 1,000 times a year and request information on citizens with severe criminal backgrounds.
For it to come into effect, the Knesset has to pass Israel’s entry into the program in three readings.
“That’s it, all the agreements have been signed, now we just need to pass it in Knesset,” said Shaked.
“Even though the Likud is trying to delay the exemption for visas for Israelis that is in the most advanced stage it’s ever been in, we are continuing to run with it as well as advancing more agreements that are a condition for entering the waiver program.
“I am committing to continuing to advance this important task and intend on demanding that we keep working on it even after the elections to give Israel’s citizens the good news they’ve been waiting for.”
Bar-Lev said: “The PSCS agreement is of strategic importance for Israel. The agreement will set processes for increasing cooperation between the Israeli government and the U.S. government in all areas concerning the war against serious crime and terror, using advanced systems that will allow monitoring and locating suspicious parties. Moreover, this is another significant step in the process of Israel joining the visa waiver program for the United States. The Public Security Ministry and the Israel Police have been given a major role in leading this project, and we will act to advance it in a manner that will contribute to the strategic relations between Israel and the United States.”
