The United States has recently taken a significant step to limit Hungary’s participation in its visa waiver program due to security concerns regarding new passports issued between 2011 and 2020. The American Visa Waiver Program allows citizens of participating countries to travel to the U.S. for tourism or business for up to 90 days without a visa, requiring only an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).
However, starting from a certain date, Hungary’s ESTA validity for passport holders will be reduced to one year, and each ESTA will only be valid for a single use. This unprecedented move affects Hungary as the only country among 40 participants in the U.S. program. The decision comes amid rising tensions between Hungary and the U.S. and other Western partners, as well as concerns about Hungary’s domestic policies and actions.
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Background: Hungarian Passport Policy and Citizenship Granting
In 2010, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government introduced a significant policy change, granting citizenship to ethnic Hungarians living abroad, including those in Romania, Slovakia, and Ukraine. This controversial move has faced criticism from domestic critics, who argue that it was intended to boost Orbán’s electoral prospects.
However, one of the major concerns raised by the U.S. and other countries is the lax identity verification mechanisms for the hundreds of thousands of passports issued under this simplified naturalisation program.
Long-standing Security Concerns and Unaddressed Vulnerabilities
David Pressman, the U.S. ambassador in Budapest, revealed that the U.S. government has been engaging the Hungarian government for years regarding the security vulnerability caused by the simplified naturalisation program.
Despite multiple administrations raising the issue, the Hungarian government has chosen not to address the concerns properly. The lack of stringent identity verification measures in the passport issuance process has been a persistent point of contention between the two countries.
Unfortunate Outcomes: US Response to Security Concerns
In response to the Hungarian government’s inaction on security concerns, the U.S. has made a series of decisions targeting Hungary’s participation in the visa waiver program. In 2017, Hungary’s status in the program was made provisional due to security concerns.
Subsequently, the U.S. decided to render Hungarians born outside the country ineligible for the program starting in 2020. Now, with the latest move, all Hungarian passport holders will be affected by the reduced validity of ESTAs and the limitation to single-use only.
Hungary’s Reaction and Accusations
Hungary’s interior ministry responded to the U.S. decision by asserting that it will not disclose the data of Hungarians holding dual citizenship beyond the border, citing security risks. The ministry accused the White House of taking revenge on Hungarians with the new visa waiver limitations. This reaction reflects the escalating tensions between the two nations.
Strained Relations with Western Partners
The recent decision by the U.S. comes at a time when Hungary’s relationship with its Western partners is at a low point. The refusal by Hungary’s parliament to ratify Sweden’s bid to join NATO has caused deep frustration among Budapest’s NATO allies.Â
Furthermore, there are concerns about senior Hungarian officials promoting Kremlin-style narratives within Hungary and efforts to undermine European sanctions against Russia. Earlier this year, the U.S. imposed sanctions on a Hungary-based bank linked to Russia, further exacerbating the strained relations.
Democracy and LGBTQ+ Rights Concerns
Many Western countries have been vocal about Hungary’s deteriorating democratic standards and policies that undermine the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals. These concerns have added to the growing disapproval of Hungary’s actions on the international stage.
Conclusion
The recent limitation on Hungary’s participation in the U.S. visa waiver program is a significant development in the bilateral relations between the two countries. The decision reflects long-standing security concerns surrounding Hungary’s passport issuance process, which has been a point of contention for years.
It also comes at a time when Hungary’s relationship with its Western partners is strained due to various issues, including disagreements over NATO enlargement, concerns about ties with Russia, and criticism of domestic policies.
As the U.S. takes this unprecedented step, the impact on tourism and business travel between the two nations remains to be seen, but it undoubtedly adds to the existing tensions and challenges in their diplomatic relationship.
