According to a study conducted in the United States by The Bullfinch Group in partnership with Romania’s INSCOP Research, More than half of Americans support abolishing visa requirements for Romanian nationals travelling to the United States.
Despite Romania’s status as a US ally, the subject of visa cancellation has received insufficient attention. Along with Bulgaria, Croatia, and Cyprus, Romania has been removed from the Visa Waiver Program, which permits nationals of other EU nations to enter the United States without a visa.
Opinion poll results: 53% of Americans want Romania to be included in the Visa Waiver Program
When asked whether they support or oppose adding Romania to the Visa Waiver Program, which presently permits citizens of 40 countries to visit the US without a visa for 90 days or less, most Americans (53%) said they support removing Romanian citizens from the program. Only 21% of respondents favour eliminating visas, while 25% are undecided.
In terms of political options, Democratic voters are the most in favour of removing visa requirements for Romanians. Consequently, 57% of Democratic Party voters support Romania entering the Visa Waiver Program, while 15% are opposed and 28% are undecided.
Half of Republican Party voters (50%) support the removal of visas for Romanian people, while 29% oppose it and 21% are undecided.
Our data clearly shows that Americans have a very positive opinion of allied countries that support US policies around the world and that Americans do not perceive Romania as a source of illegal immigration. That is why most Americans support the inclusion of Romania in the Visa Waiver Program; the percentage of those who oppose it is significantly lower. It is also very relevant that there is absolutely no category of the population that we tested in the US in which the percentage of those who oppose the abolition of visas for Romanian citizens is higher than the percentage of those who support the abolition of visas.
Brett Loyd, president and CEO of The Bullfinch Group
According to Remus Stefureac, CEO of Strategic Thinking Group, the survey might help Romania gain admission to the Visa Waiver Program.
Data show very clearly that the share of the US population, registered voters from all political quarters (Democrats, Republicans or independents) who support the abolition of visas for Romanian citizens is more than double the share of those who oppose it. The findings may further contribute to the efforts to persuade members of the US Congress and the US administration to include Romania, one of America’s most reliable allies, in the Visa Waiver program.
Remus Stefureac, head of Strategic Thinking Group
The Bullfinch Group conducted a nationwide opinion poll in the United States in partnership with INSCOP Research as part of a research project sponsored by the think tank STRATEGIC Thinking Group. Data was collected through phone interviews from February 19th to February 23rd, 2022.
Since 1997, Romania has been a strategic politico-military partner of the United States, supporting US interests worldwide. Washington does not grant visa-free travel to all EU member countries on its territory is an unresolved issue, to the detriment of Romanians and other countries such as Bulgaria, Croatia, and Cyprus. As a result, visa reciprocity between the EU and the US has not been fully realized.
