US urged to scrutinise visa waiver programme following Paris massacres
Last week’s terrorist attacks in Paris could lead to a further tightening of the US visa waiver programme, used by more than 19 million visitors a year.
Senator Dianne Feinstein this week described the programme as ‘the Achilles heel of America’ and called for it to come under scrutiny.
She said there was a danger that terrorists could go abroad for training and enter the US via a country from where they wouldn’t need to apply for a visa.
Citizens of several countries, including the UK, can enter the US for up to 90 days without visas, although they are required to fill out a visa waiver form online.
"I think there are sleeper cells, not only in France, but certainly in other countries, and, yes, even in our own," said Feinstein, a former chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee. "I think we need to take a look at the visa waiver program again, and see what we can do to prevent this kind of thing from happening, because I believe it will happen, if it hasn’t already."
The program has been an effective tool in promoting business and leisure travel to the US.
A congressional report said 19.1 million people used the program in 2012, representing 40% of all overseas visitors.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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