[traumer]

Since we have one border already wide open... why not? No double measure.

[gcruse]

Poland should wait and see how we are going to dump all over the Kurds. They'll realize what fealty to Uncle Sam is worth when the crises have passed.

[xJones]

I don't understand this at all.

At the heart of the issue is Poland’s absence from a list of 27 countries — mostly western European — that enjoy visa-free visits to the United States. According to reports, Kwasniewski had promised Poles to make visa waivers (search) a top agenda item when he met with Bush on Jan. 27, and cornered the U.S. leader on the subject during a White House press conference.

But despite his efforts, Kwasniewski failed to get more than a pledge from Bush that both countries would participate in a commission studying ways to make Polish travel to the United States less restrictive.

Poles don't have any equivalent to the Russian mafia, for instance. And when was the first or last time a Polish tourist/immigrant gave any problems? Why slap Poland in the face like that?

[MissAmericanPie]

Twenty seven countires have visa free access to the USofA. Disgraceful.

[SAMWolf]

“The Poles are scratching their heads and wondering, ‘What is going on?’”

There's some Americans scratching their heads and wondering, ‘What is going on?’ too. I trust someone coming in from Poland a lot more than I would anyone coming in tnrough france or Germany right now.

[TigersEye]

Note to Poles: If you respect our laws you will get the shaft. Use your Visas to get in and then get lost in the crowd. If you really like paying taxes wait for the next amnesty boat to come in and jump on.

[Calvin Locke]

Since we have one border already wide open... why not?

FWIW, I vaguely recall a Pole or two (with in the past year) that drowned attempting to enter via Mexico. Wife drowned. Maybe the husband survived.

[staytrue]

FYI

The countries currently participating in the Visa Waiver Program include including Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.

[kabar]

The visa wavier program was instituted some time ago to eliminate the time-consuming and labor intensive visa interviews at our embassies abroad. Countries can qualify for the program if the visa refusal rate is below a certain percentage. I believe it was around 5%. The State Department saved money by reducing the number of consular officers overseas and the associated costs of maintaining them there. The program was implemented on a reciprocal basis, i.e., American citizens don't need visas for the countries that are part of the Progam.

Obviously, Poland does not meet the established criteria for being part of the Program. Congress approved the program and set the limits. There has been pressure from Congress, depending on the country, to include borderline countries like Ireland. The question is whether you want to extend the Progam to cover more countries by changing the criteria or do away with it altogether. 9/11 has put the Program under new scrutiny.

[jpsb]

What allow white, european Chritans into the USA? No freaking way, forget it Poland.

[JudgemAll]

Well, maybe we were wrong to allow those 27 nations in the first place in...

[LibertyAndJusticeForAll]

The Poles probably have no idea that we do not bother to protect our borders. Afterall, every civilized and sovereign nation protects its borders.
If they knew, they might be joining the millions of Latinos that cross our borders without being stopped or questioned. They'd better hurry though, summer's coming and it will be too hot for safe passage.