Minister Velislava Petrova Discussed with a Delegation of the US Department of Homeland Security the Final Steps to include Bulgaria in the US Visa Waiver Program
23 June 2026 News
Minister Velislava Petrova received a high-level delegation from the US Department of Homeland Security yesterday, led by John Gountanis, Deputy Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy and Planning. Representatives of the US State Department also took part in the meeting.
The Bulgarian top diplomat stressed that he accepted the visit as an expression of serious recognition of Bulgaria's progress in meeting the technical requirements for security and that the abolition of visa requirements for tourist visas for Bulgarian citizens would ensure balance and mutual respect for each country's priorities, reflecting the strategic partnership between Bulgaria and the United States.
The next steps for finalizing the process for Bulgaria's inclusion in the US Visa Waiver Program were discussed, including the fulfillment of the remaining legal requirements, the last of which is the achievement of a visa refusal rate below 3%.
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