US President Barack Obama plans to change criteria of acceptance into Visa Waiver program that might allow Romanian to obtain visas easier for the US. According to the US Ambassador to Bucharest, Mark Gitenstein, Obama plans to take into account just those who exceeded legal stay not the refusal rate also, which is the case.

Currently, to join Visa Waiver, the refusal needs to be below 3%. Romania’s rate is about 30%. The Ambassador insisted that even if about 70% of the Romanians who apply for a visa also receive it, Romania needs to do more to drop the refusal rates. According to the US Ambassador, if the law proposed by the President passes the way it is, it might significantly impact Romania’s chances to join Visa Waiver.