BREAKING: US limits visa exemptions for Hungarians
As of Tuesday, the United States has significantly restricted visa-free travel from Hungary due to security concerns over Hungarian passports issued between 2011 and 2020. Of the 40 countries participating in the US programme, Hungary is the only one to be affected by the unprecedented restrictions.
Under the American Visa Waiver Program, citizens of participating countries can travel to the United States for tourism or business purposes for up to 90 days without a visa, using only the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).
From Tuesday, the validity of ESTA for holders of Hungarian passports will be reduced from two years to one year, and an ESTA will be valid for one-time use only, Politico reports.
David Pressman, the US Ambassador in Budapest, told Politico that “there are hundreds of thousands of passports that have been issued by the government of Hungary as part of the simplified naturalisation program without stringent identity verification mechanisms in place.”
According to Pressman, the US government has been trying to deal with this “security gap” with the Hungarian government for years and through several administrations. However, “the government of Hungary has opted not to close” it.
According to Pressman, “this is a really unfortunate day. This is not the outcome the United States sought or is seeking.” Hungary is the only one of the 40 countries participating in the programme to be affected by the restrictions.
Featured image: illustration (Pixabay)
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14 Comments
Upside – our Politicians will understand and will be able to explain to the Hungarian people.
It is of paramount importance to defend the border!
Furthermore – it pertains to Hungarian passports issued between 2011 and 2020 … Who was in power during that time? Who is accountable? And, apparently, the issue pertains to the Fidesz flagship simplified naturalization program, where Hungary issued passports without stringent identity verification mechanisms in place? We just … Gave people Hungarian passports? Shocker.
Anyone can tell that Mr. Pressman, Biden’s useful idiot, continues the Hungary bashing of the woke left. Orbán should reject this alphabet fool as the enemy he is.
Concur Norbert.
We KNOW – due to the Orban Governments opinions attitude and “aggressive” attacks on America, especially post the OUTING of Orbans “mate” – the “infamous” – 45th elected President of the United States of America -Donald J. Trump, that Hungarian-American relationships NEVER have been as VULNURABLE as they are at this point in time.
America will NOT “lean” give any FAVOURS broadsheet rightfully to Hungary, through the aggressive position attitude – adapted – “mouthed out” to the Global World – by the Prime Minister of Hungary -Victor Orban and his Government.
Hungary is under a watchful MASSIVE large telescope – set on directed at us, by the United States of America.
Orban has destroyed RELATIONSHIPS just not country’s governed under DEMOCRACY, but country’s that we Hungary, have over decades enjoyed amicable and working relationships, that have been a win/win atmosphere.
Orban and his Government – the destruction they have caused to the brand name Hungary – HUMILIATING.
Millions , not thousands have entered the US southern border since Biden took office . No questions asked -cell phones – food and shelter free along with transportation to anywhere you want to to go. Along with people from all over the world ,Central American prisons special conveys to border to get rid of there most violent prisoners.
Why don’t you do some reporting and ask Pressman what’s really going on and this clown is part of it. Ask him why all the Biden corruption in this area of world doesn’t seem to be a problem. Hunter has a special get to know you event scheduled for October in the Balkins- cash only- electronic transfers are big problem especially for thousands of dollars.
Norbert, just to complete the last sentence of your impeccable comment: ” we ( the gang in power ) just gave Hungarian passport to whoever could afford buying it and to whoever suited our political agenda ”
Needless to say Hungarians will keep voting for the gang in power.
We need a modern day – Eliot Ness, to “catch” these – they believe they are -Untouchables.
TM: not a word of truth in your entire post. Also, this does not exempt Hungary from passing out actual passports to many who do not live in Hungary.
WOW, The US CIA detachment at the US Embassy in Budapest has been busy with the anti Hungarian comments on this article. Me thinks it is time for Hungary to send 90% of the US Embassy staff home to their offices at the CIA Headquarters at Langley, Virginia. DNH, please explain why the US Embassy in Budapest has 200 plus employees. Most of them are Americans.
It is not easy for Hungarians and Hungarian descendants living abroad to obtain Hungarian citizenship and passport. Hungary is famous for red tape.
There are many advantages for having a Hungarian passport, example, travelers with Hungarian passports can enter visa free 184 countries while only 142 countries accept visa free US travelers. Canadians want to travel to Brazil have to submit copies of their bank statements.
Hungarian passport holders living abroad usually travel with the passport of their home countries.
Foreigners and Hungarians travelling with Hungarian passports are usually law abiding, these passport holders are not the ones that overstay their welcome, import Fentanyl, commit terrorism, commit crimes while living at the American taxpayers’ expense.
The US is actively recruiting Hungarians to teach at the Universities e.g., John Polanyi and do important research. It was an Italian that betrayed the atomic secret to the Russians, and it were British spies that betrayed the US during WWII. Blinken and the Biden Administration have a great problem with enemy identification.
No news from the frontline. Pollitical agenda on use.
The American Democratic party, spreading their “democracy” everywhere, reminding the lesser powerful states and also subservients (or should be), what they must do in their own home.
The pathetic propaganda of the american embassy in Budapest, using the “Ruszikik haza” motto of 1956’s revolution, its an offense to the hungarian people and nation, hungarians don’t need to be reminded of their own history, and hungarians fought for the motto, not americans and westerns, that only turned their back and let hungarians alone.
Dear Maria, please read this:
“Washington has long threatened to impose travel restrictions on Hungary over concerns the identities of nearly 1 million foreigners granted Hungarian passports in the past decade were not properly verified. ”
And they all voted in the last election. Do you think it is right that 1 million foreigners voted in OUR elections? Let us know. Same to TM, Andres and Derrick
Many of the foreign living citizens have interest and relatives in Hungary, therefore interest in the survival of Hungary. The foreign living citizens also want to ensure that the present generation does not end up oppressed by a foreign power like Russia after WWII. One has to admit that the Russian suppression was the result of agreements the western powers. Hungary was not the only sufferer, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria was also under the communist despotism. The communist oppression ended the end during the late 1980s.
Presently, the threat, once more, comes from the west. The EU and globalists cannot tolerate that a small, insignificant country is refusing to cede its sovereignty and introduce their socialist tyranny. Yes, it is a great idea for foreign living Hungarians to have voting rights because unlike socialists in Hungary buying votes using foreign money, the Hungarians in foreign lands cannot be bought.
I don’t get what’s the issue here. Every country has its own right to determine who’s allowed and who’s not. Why is the far right in the comment section so triggered? Isn’t it usually an argument from the right that everyone should respect the country’s immigration laws? So in this case, the US made this policy, case closed
Also, mariavontheresa, I presume you’re American? Your argument is strange. There are many Americans who have Mexican heritage: many of them have been American since the 19th century (in Texas, NM, Arizona, and Cali). Many also have family members in Mexico too. Should those people in Mexico have voting rights in the US?
I have a Serbian friend who has Hungarian citizenship due to her connection to a Serbian family (a minority) in Hungary. She barely speaks Hungarian, but uses the passport to her advantage.
There is no threat to Hungarian sovereignty. The only “threat “is that the EU member countries do not want to give support funds to an autocrat nation that does not share the values of the majority in the alliance. Hungary can leave EU anytime. If Hungary was in an alliance with the east, it would be a bit more difficult to leave that alliance as we have tragically seen in Russia´s neighboring countries.
About buying votes.. well the conservative are really good at that. Interesting read about how Fidesz bought votes to win 2018 elections: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/breaking-fresh-evidence-hungary-vote-rigging-raises-concerns-fraud-european-elections/
I´ll be happy to read about socialists buying votes if anyone can provide any decent sources to back up those claims.