Transfer means Qatari residents will likely be allowed to journey visa-free to the US for as much as 90 days, and vice versa.
Qatar has turn into the primary Gulf nation admitted into the US visa waiver programme, the USA has introduced, in a transfer that may enable Qatari residents to journey visa-free to the nation for as much as 90 days.
In a joint statement on Tuesday, the US State Division and the Division of Homeland Safety stated Qatari residents would have the ability to apply no later than December 1.
“Qatar’s success of the stringent safety necessities to affix the Visa Waiver Program will deepen our strategic partnership and improve the stream of individuals and commerce between our two nations,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated.
“Qatar’s entry will make journey between the USA and Qatar safer, safer, and simpler for each People and Qataris.”
Qatar and the US have loved shut ties for years, and Washington formally designated Doha as a “main, non-NATO ally” in 2022 in an indication of the nations’ deepening army and financial partnership.
Qatar additionally has performed an important role alongside the US in attempting to dealer a ceasefire to finish Israel’s warfare on the Gaza Strip, which is nearing the one-year mark.
In Tuesday’s assertion, the administration of US President Joe Biden stated Qatar “has been an distinctive associate for the USA, and our strategic relationship has solely grown stronger over the previous few years”.
An administration official earlier informed reporters the US has a robust defence relationship with Qatar and praised Doha for taking the lead on urgent the Taliban on human rights in Afghanistan and offering help in Sudan, amongst different points.
Qatar is the forty second member of the visa waiver programme, with nations added sometimes. Croatia was added in 2021 and Israel joined last year.
To be admitted to the programme, a rustic should meet strict necessities associated to legislation enforcement, border administration, and different points.
It additionally requires reciprocity, that means that Americans have to be granted the identical entry to visa-free journey as residents of a rustic becoming a member of the programme.
US residents can already journey with out visas to Qatar, however they are going to now be allowed to remain within the Gulf nation for as many as 90 days – up from 30 days beforehand, the assertion stated.
