Press Releases 2006
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Polish-U.S. Consular Working Group Joint Statement
6 February 2006The Polish-U.S. Consular Working Group, co-chaired by MFA State Secretary Anna E. Fotyga and Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Maura Harty, held its second session on January 30 in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Representatives of various Polish Ministries and U.S. Government Agencies engaged in a discussion of consular issues.
The two sides reviewed steps for implementing the Visa Road Map, which is aimed at helping Poland participate in the Visa Waiver Program. Both sides took note of the rising issuance rate for Polish visa applicants since Poland’s May 2004 entry to the European Union. There was an exchange of views on promoting public awareness about legal requirements for travel to the U.S. Both sides underlined the advantages of the Immigration Advisory Program: a rapid decrease in the number of passengers returned from U.S. ports of entry and a reduction in the use of counterfeit travel documents. It was agreed that the Polish and U.S. sides would cooperate on a series of validation studies to be undertaken this year. Both sides noted positive changes in visa processing at U.S. consular offices in Poland.
The Polish side noted with interest recent draft legislation introduced by Senator Richard Lugar providing for the establishment of a U.S.-Polish youth exchange program. Assistant Secretary Harty promised to report Poland’s interest to Washington.
At the session, issues related to the implementation and enforcement of The Hague Convention on Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction were reviewed. In addition, there was consensus on the need to begin preparations for the start of formal negotiations by early next year on a bilateral social security (“totalization”) treaty.
