press releases
Visa-Free Tranist Programs Suspended
ATHENS - August 5, 2003 -- The United States Departments of State and of Homeland Security have temporarily suspended two programs allowing travelers to transit American airports without a visa. The suspension affects those passengers stopping at an airport in the U.S. en route to another country, and means they will be required to get a transit visa from the U.S. Embassy.
American authorities have temporarily halted the two programs, Transit Without Visa and International to International Transit, in response to recent specific intelligence indicating that terrorist groups have been planning to exploit the programs to gain access to the U.S., or U.S. airspace, without going through the consular screening process.
The Departments expect to review the two programs in two
months time to determine whether or not they can be reinstated. In the meantime, those travelers planning on
traveling via a U.S. airport should apply for a visa from the Consular Section
at the U.S. Embassy in Athens. For more
information, please go to www.usembassy.gr,
or contact the Non-Immigrant Visa unit at the number listed at the top.