US tightens entry rules for Hungarians over security concerns

WASHINGTON – The US has tightened entry rules for Hungarians under its visa waiver programme, citing security concerns about a fast-track naturalisation plan that Prime Minister Viktor Orban put in place for people living outside Hungary’s borders.

The United States will halve the period of validity of electronic authorisations for people holding Hungarian passports under the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation programme to one year, and it will limit entry to a single occasion from multiple visits currently, the US Embassy said in a statement on Tuesday.

“This change will go into effect immediately and remain until the security concerns underlying it are addressed,” the embassy said. The restrictions will apply only to new Esta approvals and do not prohibit travel to the US.The US has been a vocal critic of Hungary over its lukewarm support of Ukraine after Russia’s invasion, as well as for the erosion of the rule of law under Mr Orban’s 13-year rule.

The new steps over entry into the country, however, are separate to that, according to a senior US government official, who asked not to be identified. Still, the announcement came a day after Hungary’s ruling party boycotted a Parliament meeting on Monday, torpedoing opposition efforts to ratify Sweden’s accession into the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

Source: Holiday News (holidaynews.net)

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