Qatar cleared the \u201cstringent security requirements\u201d to become the 42nd member of the visa waiver program
\n new york
\nThe United States said Tuesday it will waive visa requirements for citizens of Qatar, making the close Gulf partner the first Arab country to clear the hurdle.
\nThe energy-rich Gulf monarchy cleared the \u201cstringent security requirements\u201d to become the 42nd member of the visa waiver program, the Department of Homeland Security announced.
\nThe agreement \u201cwill deepen our strategic partnership and enhance the flow of people and commerce between our two countries,\u201d Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.
\nQatar \u2013 where citizens make up a small minority of residents \u2013 has been jockeying with fellow wealthy Gulf Arab states for a greater global role.
\nHome to a major US air base, Qatar has taken a lead in so far unsuccessful efforts to mediate a Gaza ceasefire and earlier helped the United States fly out thousands of Afghan allies as the Taliban seized control.
\nUS officials said they were open to other Gulf Arab nations eventually entering the program.
\nThe countries whose citizens are exempt from US visas are overwhelmingly wealthy and mostly in Europe and East Asia.
\nThe United States last year added Israel after years of friction.
\nTo enter the program, Israel made promises not to discriminate against its admission of US citizens of Palestinian or other Arab descent.
\nUnder the waiver program, citizens apply online for pre-clearance to enter the United States rather than going through the paperwork and expense of a visa.
\nSome applicants are still told to seek a visa, including if they have visited a number of countries with adversarial relationships with the United States, such as Iran.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Qatar cleared the \u201cstringent security requirements\u201d to become the 42nd member of the visa waiver program new york The United States said Tuesday it will waive visa requirements for citizens of Qatar, making the close Gulf partner the first Arab country to clear the hurdle. The energy-rich Gulf monarchy cleared the \u201cstringent security requirements\u201d to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":433453,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-433434","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n