Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

US restricts visa-free travel for Hungarian passport holders because of security concerns

The United States has imposed travel restrictions on citizens of Hungary, citing concerns about the verification of nearly 1 million foreigners, many of them Chinese, granted Hungarian passports over a nine-year period. The U.S. Embassy and a government official have confirmed this move.
The restrictions specifically apply to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, which allows passport holders from 40 countries to enter the United States for business or tourism without a visa for up to 90 days.

As a result of the security concerns, the validity period of travel for Hungarian passport holders under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization has been reduced from two years to one year. Additionally, each traveler will now be limited to a single entry into the United States. These are the only restrictions among the 40 participating states in the Visa Waiver Program.

A senior U.S. government official, speaking anonymously, revealed that the change follows several unsuccessful attempts by the U.S. to address the security concerns with Hungary's government.

The issuance of hundreds of thousands of Hungarian passports without stringent identity verification requirements has raised alarm, as some of them were given to individuals with criminal backgrounds who pose a safety threat and have no genuine connection to Hungary.

The Hungarian government, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, initiated a simplified naturalization procedure in 2011 for those claiming Hungarian ancestry, even if they didn't live or plan to live in Hungary.

This led to hundreds of thousands of ethnic Hungarians living in neighboring countries, such as Romania, Serbia, and Ukraine, acquiring Hungarian citizenship through this procedure.

Critics argue that this program allowed non-taxpaying ethnic Hungarians residing in other countries to vote in Hungarian elections, potentially giving an electoral advantage to Prime Minister Orbán's ruling Fidesz party.

In response to the restrictions, Hungary's government has expressed reluctance to provide the personal data of ethnic Hungarians abroad with dual citizenship, citing the need to protect the security of those citizens.

The U.S. had previously reclassified Hungary as a provisional member of the Visa Waiver Program due to these concerns.

As tensions rise between the two countries, the travel restrictions signal a notable development in diplomatic relations.

This situation compels Hungary to confront a stark choice: either to proceed with its advantageous position within the European Union and benefit from the Union's robust ties with the United States, or to maintain its support and cooperation with China and Russia.

Given the current actions of the Hungarian government, the United States, from its standpoint, rightfully perceives Hungary as a Trojan horse within the European Union and NATO.
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
Western Europe Records Hottest June on Record
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
France Requests Airlines to Cut Flights at Paris Airports Amid Planned Air Traffic Controller Strike
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Hungary's Prime Minister Criticizes NATO's Role in Ukraine
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Hungarian Scientist to Conduct 30 Research Experiments on the International Space Station
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
International Astronaut Team Launched to Space Station
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Operatives After Sabotage Claims
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
Oil Prices Set to Surge After US Strikes Iran
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
×