site.btaForeign Minister, US Ambassador Discuss Bulgaria's Inclusion in US Visa Waiver Program

The caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ivan Kondov, Tuesday met with US Ambassador to Bulgaria Kenneth Merten, the Foreign Ministry said. The meeting focused on Bulgaria's inclusion in the US Visa Waiver Program, which enables most citizens or nationals of participating countries to travel to the US for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa.

Kondov stressed that Bulgaria's inclusion in the US Visa Waiver Program is of the utmost importance and will demonstrate the strategic nature of the relations between the two countries. He said that by the end of the year, a campaign will be launched to raise public awareness about the Program and to explain the conditions and process of applying for a US visa. The campaign aims to lower the refusal rate for Bulgaria to qualify for the Program. Ambassador Merten confirmed the US Embassy's readiness to continue assisting Bulgaria's efforts to join the Program.

Kondov also raised the issue of concluding a Bulgaria-US Social Security Agreement, which would be in the interest of Bulgarians working and living in the US.

The sides discussed the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry and the US State Department for working together to counter foreign manipulation of information. The Memorandum was signed at the second session of the Bulgaria-US Strategic Dialogue, held on September 25, 2023, in Washington, DC. The document provides a strong foundation for both countries to work together against the spread of disinformation and media manipulation, an increasing threat in Central and Eastern Europe.