The American Embassy in Hungary has announced new visa restrictions affecting Hungarian citizens. Starting soon, these measures will be enforced through the US visa approval program, which permits citizens from 40 countries to enter the US without a visa for business or tourism for up to 90 days.
Under the revised rules, the travel validity period for Hungarian citizens utilizing the Electronic Travel Document Authorization System will be reduced from two years to one. Furthermore, each traveler will now be limited to a single entry into the US. These restrictions represent the only prohibitions currently applicable under the visa approval program.
US officials have cited security concerns, noting that hundreds of thousands of Hungarian passports have been issued without proper vetting. Some of these passports have reportedly been issued to individuals with criminal backgrounds, raising alarm about potential threats to national security.
In 2011, Hungary’s administration streamlined the citizenship application process for individuals of Hungarian descent, regardless of their residency status. In light of these developments, the US has reclassified Hungary as a temporary participant in the visa approval program, reflecting ongoing concerns about security and immigration policies.