The Paragon Partnership, the global alliance of business travel associations, supports the National Business Travel Association…
The Paragon Partnership, the global alliance of business travel associations, supports the National Business Travel Association (NBTA) in its efforts to fight unfair travel restrictions resulting from the current deadline for countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). According to the policies of the U.S. Department of State (DOS) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS), all citizens of VWP countries who wish to enter the United States without a visa have to present a passport with imbedded biometric information beginning October 26, 2005. Currently, however, most VWP countries believe they will not be able to begin issuing biometric passports until 2006.
In a meeting in Frankfurt, Germany on April 12, Paragon delegates of nine countries and regions worldwide stressed that unrestricted travel is crucial to the world economy. The Paragon delegates urged NBTA to continue to lobby for an extension of the deadline.
VDR, the Business Travel Association of Germany, warned as early as August 2004 that German authorities will not be able to start issuing the required passports before late fall this year.
If the deadline is not moved, unnecessary irritation and travel disruption is clearly predictable, said VDR President Michael Kirnberger.
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