Bulgaria & Cyprus Putting at Risk Future Visa-Free Travel to US With Their Golden Passport Schemes. Bulgaria and Cyprus may be jeopardizing their process towards reaching an agreement with the United States in order for the citizens of both countries to be able to travel visa-free to the US. Currently, both these countries, as well as Romania, are the only EU members, the citizens of which need a visa to travel to the US for tourism purposes.
#eudebates #VISA #Bulgaria #Cyprus #passports #GoldenVISA
At the beginning of the month, on March 3, Representatives Burgess Owens from Utah’s Fourth Congressional District and Steve Cohen representing the 9th District of Tennessee have presented a bill to the congress, through which they intend to revoke the permission for visa-free travel for nationals of countries which operate the so-called Golden Passport scheme.
The bill named the No Travel for Traffickers Act claims that among the 40 world countries under the US Visa Waiver Program, the citizens of which can currently enter the US visa-free, there are several that operate schemes through which they grant citizenship in exchange for investments in their territory.
“Also known as “golden passports,” these schemes require little vetting and are notoriously abused by human traffickers, international criminals, and corrupt oligarchs. Russia is one of the world’s worst offenders when it comes to using these golden passport schemes as a back door into other countries,” a press release issued by Owens’ official website notes.
Currently, there are three EU countries that operate such schemes – Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Malta. While the first two jeopardize the process of becoming part of the US Visa Waiver Program, the latter, Malta, risks being excluded from it.
According to representative Owens, the No Travel for Traffickers Act intends to address the severe security risks that come from schemes granting golden passports to foreigners, calling the act a critical step in “isolating the bad actors” worldwide.
“Many countries sell citizenship to traffickers through phony ‘investments’ such as real estate, and this must be stopped. I am proud to join Congressman Owens in introducing the No Travel for Traffickers Act, which will help restrict this misuse of the legal process,” Owens said.
Both Bulgaria and Cyprus are in the process of terminating their golden passport schemes, yet Malta has not given any signals that it has such plans.
In mid-February, the EU Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs has supported a draft legislative initiative report which amongst others urges the EU Member countries operating golden passport schemes to terminate them as soon as possible.
The same has also called on 12 EU countries to tighten up the rules for issuing golden visas to foreigners.
#eudebates
Most Cyprus passports issued in investment scheme were ‘illegal’
Between 2013 and 2019, probe finds that thousands of passports issued to rich foreigners were handed out illegally.
European values are not for sale.
We consider that the sale of citizenship through ‘golden passports’ is illegal under EU law and poses serious risks to our security.
All EU countries concerned should end their investor citizenship schemes immediately. #StandWithUkraine
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