Metropolis Desk-
Tuesday, the United States toughened the requirements for Hungarian nationals participating in its visa waiver program as a result of Budapest’s alleged failure to “address the security vulnerabilities” resulting from passports produced since 2011.
A million people have naturalized as Hungarians since 2011, and Viktor Orban’s fast-track passport system has been criticized by Washington on numerous occasions for being prone to “security breaches.”
Around two million ethnic Hungarians reside in neighboring nations; this is a result of a post-World War I pact that narrowed Hungary’s borders.
In 2018, the US threatened to scrap visa waivers for Hungarian passport holders after officials uncovered a fraud scheme that has let non-Hungarians allegedly enter the US under false identities.
Hungary’s simplified naturalization process during that period lacked “adequate security measures… to verify identities,” said a statement by the US embassy in Budapest.
A million people have naturalized as Hungarians since 2011, and Viktor Orban’s fast-track passport system has been criticized by Washington on numerous occasions for being prone to “security breaches.”
Around two million ethnic Hungarians reside in neighboring nations; this is a result of a post-World War I pact that narrowed Hungary’s borders.
Procedures for all Hungarian passport holders to use the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) have been amended, it stated, “in light of Hungary’s decision to not fully address the security vulnerabilities created by the earlier implementation of its simplified naturalization process.”
The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) validity term for travel by holders of Hungarian passports will be “reduced from two years to one year” as of Tuesday, it stated.
The announcement added that an ESTA’s validity will be restricted to a single usage for those with Hungarian passports.
A million people have naturalized as Hungarians since 2011, and Viktor Orban’s fast-track passport system has been criticized by Washington on numerous occasions for being prone to “security breaches.”
Around two million ethnic Hungarians reside in neighboring nations; this is a result of a post-World War I pact that narrowed Hungary’s borders.
As long as they have an ESTA, citizens of participating nations can travel to the US for up to 90 days for business or tourism without a visa.
The US action was denounced by Hungary’s interior ministry, which declared that Washington’s demand for “data of Hungarians (living) abroad with dual citizenship” would not be complied with.
“Hungarians living abroad risk their safety. It added in a statement: “As a result, President Joe Biden’s administration is now exacting retribution on the Hungarians.
A million people have naturalized as Hungarians since 2011, and Viktor Orban’s fast-track passport system has been criticized by Washington on numerous occasions for being prone to “security breaches.”
Around two million ethnic Hungarians reside in neighboring nations; this is a result of a post-World War I pact that narrowed Hungary’s borders.
Since taking power in 2010, Orban the US, and the EU have frequently argued over claims that he has led Hungary toward authoritarianism.
Orban, a close ally of former US President Donald Trump, has charged that the present administration is attempting to undermine his administration and bolster the Hungarian opposition.
