Greece added to US visa waiver program

[G3SG1]

a very significant diplomatic move from the US considering the timing.







WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) – Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced Tuesday that Greece is now a member of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).
The VWP will strengthen passenger information sharing and ensuring strict security standards while simplifying travel for Greek citizens visiting the United States.
For more than two years, Greece and the U.S. have been coordinating the country’s entry into VWP. Tuesday’s announcement represents an important step in the countries’ partnership as the U.S. determined that Greece complies with key security and information-sharing requirements—such as enhanced law enforcement and security-related data sharing with the United States, timely reporting of lost and stolen passports, and the maintenance of high counterterrorism, law enforcement, border control, aviation and document security standards.
“Our efforts to guard against terrorism while enhancing legal travel and trade depend upon close collaboration with our international partners,” said Secretary Napolitano. “I commend our partners in Greece for committing to strong screening and security standards and enhanced information sharing for travel by Greek citizens to the United States as we work together to protect our citizens and strengthen our economies.”
Greek citizens will be permitted to travel to the United States for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa, but they will be required to apply for an Electronic System Travel Authorization through the Web-based system. The VWP will become active for Greek citizen in about 30 days.
There are 35 nations already participating in VWP, which began in 1986.


More at : Greece becomes new member of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world/greece-becomes-new-member-of-the-us-visa-waiver-program_100332443.html#ixzz0hjGtnQZU) http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world/greece-becomes-new-member-of-the-us-visa-waiver-program_100332443.html#ixzz0hjGtnQZU

http://www.globalatlanta.com/article/23797/

[Flagg]

I'm thinking the US would be happy to take onboard skilled Greeks with CAPITAL looking to get the heck out of Dodge before they are taxed to death in Greece...which will probably be followed a few years later in the US.

[Imp]

I'm thinking the US would be happy to take onboard skilled Greeks with CAPITAL looking to get the heck out of Dodge before they are taxed to death in Greece...which will probably be followed a few years later in the US.

Isn't the problem is Greece that they have already taxed anyone and everyone with CAPITAL to death by now, and there is nobody left to leech off?

[Flagg]

Isn't the problem is Greece that they have already taxed anyone and everyone with CAPITAL to death by now, and there is nobody left to leech off?

Tax Evasion would appear to be the national sport in Greece by some metrics....so if there's a necessary crackdown, some folks with money might split while the splittin' appears to be temporarily good.

[Ordie]

We'll just have more Greeks overstaying their visit in the US and join the ranks of the undocumented.

[I'mOnlyHalfPolish]

We'll just have more Greeks overstaying their visit in the US and join the ranks of the undocumented.

Doubt it...you would be a fool to think that EVEN if you asked to switch visas with them 99 out 100 times they would say no (the other one would not know how to say "no" in English)

[80 EAN]

Doubt it...you would be a fool to think that EVEN if you asked to switch visas with them 99 out 100 times they would say no (the other one would not know how to say "no" in English)


Why do you say that? You consider us that Anti-American?

[DID]

Tax Evasion would appear to be the national sport in Greece by some metrics....so if there's a necessary crackdown, some folks with money might split while the splittin' appears to be temporarily good.
That is exactly one of the reason why Greece is such in a bad situation now, I mean it's a national sport since a long time. The country is entirely corrupt, they lied about the economic situation (as Portugal did) for entering Euro zone and now they are paying for it.

[Breerman]

I think the warning signs were there far before Greece decided to include prostitution in the official GDP calculation.

[Aor]

How does this "Greece added to US visa waiver program" have anything to do with the Greek deficit is beyond my comprehension.
That is exactly one of the reason why Greece is such in a bad situation now, I mean it's a national sport since a long time. The country is entirely corrupt, they lied about the economic situation (as Portugal did) for entering Euro zone and now they are paying for it.

Stereotypes, stereotypes, stereotypes. Idiot.

[G3SG1]

That is exactly one of the reason why Greece is such in a bad situation now, I mean it's a national sport since a long time. The country is entirely corrupt, they lied about the economic situation (as Portugal did) for entering Euro zone and now they are paying for it.


Well, i am glad our first governor isn't alive to see such an absurd generalization because he would regret a lot of things he did for your beautiful country.







In 1809 Kapodistrias entered the service of Alexander I of Russia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_I_of_Russia).[19] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ioannis_Kapodistrias#cite_note-Metternich-18) His first important mission, in November 1813, was as unofficial Russian ambassador to Switzerland (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switzerland), with the task of helping disentangle the country from the French dominance imposed by Napoleon. He secured Swiss unity, independence and neutrality, which were formally guaranteed by the Great Powers, and actively facilitated the initiation of a new Constitution (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution) for the 19 cantons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canton_of_Switzerland) that were the component states of Switzerland, with personal drafts.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ioannis_Kapodistrias




SWITZERLAND UNVEIL BUST KAPODISTRIAS

Ioannis Kapodistrias bust unveiled (http://en.sae.gr/?id=17540)


Lausanne, 23.09.2009 A bust of Ioannis Kapodistrias (1776-1831), Greek diplomat of the Russian Empire and first governor of the Greek State, was unveiled on Monday in Lausanne on the occasion of the two-day formal visit to Switzerland by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
According to an article in the Swiss daily “24heures”, the bust was made by Russian sculptor Vladimir Surovtsev, and commissioned in a joint initiative by Russia, Greece and Lausanne in order to highlight the leading role played by Kapodistrias in cementing the unity of Switzerland. He is also regarded as the patron of Canton Vaud, the independence of which he supported as requested by Czar Alexander I, according to an extensive article in the daily “24heures”.
Kapodistrias, as member of the Russian delegation in the Congress of Vienna in 1815, secured the recognition of Switzerland’s independence and neutrality.

http://en.sae.gr/?id=17540

[G3SG1]

I'm thinking the US would be happy to take onboard skilled Greeks with CAPITAL looking to get the heck out of Dodge before they are taxed to death in Greece...which will probably be followed a few years later in the US.

The first two months of uncertainty in the tax factor forced a lot of people to send their capital abroad. They didin't learn from the experience of Italy who welcomed back some billions to Italian banks.

There are other capital destinations like Cyprus and others but the situation will be clear when the new tax law will come to power ( there are motives for returning capital to Greece and also major advancement is to be given in the Greek shipping magnates to establish their bases in Greece) and leave Panama, Liberia and other places.

[I'mOnlyHalfPolish]

Why do you say that? You consider us that Anti-American?

No, no, no...I am saying I very much doubt that many Greeks would give up their homeland (and in such a fashion). I would bet the majority of Europeans who immigrate to the US do so through the proper channels.

Greece is a beautiful country that created our modern Western society. All of our societal foundations lie in the Greeks and they were later carried on by the Romans.

This is not the early-1900s, and I assume we will not see boatloads of poor, starving Greeks on our shores, coming in illegally.

It was just Ordie with one of conspiracy theories about immigration from our southern neighbors (he always tries to tie everything in to Hispanic immigration into the US in the most roundabout ways)...

[Ordie]

No, no, no...I am saying I very much doubt that many Greeks would give up their homeland (and in such a fashion)..

I guess you've never been to Melbourne, Australia or Tarpon Springs, Florida

[I'mOnlyHalfPolish]

i guess you've never been to melbourne, australia or tarpon springs, florida

oh my god greeks have invaded two towns in the world illegally!!!!

[achillefs13]

Right now 3000 ships (full of hungry and horny Greeks) are ready to sail to Ordies city.

[I'mOnlyHalfPolish]

Right now 3000 ships (full of hungry and horny Greeks) are ready to sail to Ordies city.

Especially in the US...there are so many...errr..."Greeks" here. Try going to the Social Security or welfare office in Texas. Its about 90%...errr..."Greeks" there. They even have 8 of the 10 workers seeing people speaking...errr..."Greek". My girlfriend had to apply for a SS card for an internship here and there was about 100...errr..."Greeks" to 10-15...errr..."non-Greeks"...

[G3SG1]

Especially in the US...there are so many...errr..."Greeks" here. Try going to the Social Security or welfare office in Texas. Its about 90%...errr..."Greeks" there. They even have 8 of the 10 workers seeing people speaking...errr..."Greek". My girlfriend had to apply for a SS card for an internship here and there was about 100...errr..."Greeks" to 10-15...errr..."non-Greeks"...

Greeks went in Texas because οf the...Guns.:)

[G3SG1]

This is not the early-1900s, and I assume we will not see boatloads of poor, starving Greeks on our shores, coming in illegally.
..

The majority of Greeks came via Ellis island AFAIK.

[Navigator]

I see here we have some native Americans or Aborigins of Australia writing in this topic :lol:
Greeks are in USA Canada Australia ... as some other Europeans loooong ago ,

Anyway we are not the ones who are going to leave our country , its the illegall imigrants coming from east if thinks go really bad p-)

[Ordie]

Right now 3000 ships (full of hungry and horny Greeks) are ready to sail to Ordies city.

The Greeks should feel right at home in San Francisco, where the Plato Club bathhouse are waiting for them.

[iloxos]

San Francisco? A city with eartquakes? Lovely, just like home... Odie I am coming!!!!!

PS Is there a MP.net club????? :)

[Ordie]

San Francisco? A city with eartquakes? Lovely, just like home... Odie I am coming!!!!!

PS Is there a MP.net club????? :)

If you look like you avatar, you would be well received on Castro Street.

[iloxos]

hahahahahahahaha nice one Ordie!!!!

[Vorian]

Nice....too bad it came just two weeks after I payed 90 euros to get the freaking visa in order to visit freaking New York. It better be worth it Americans, or I will bomb the crap out of you.

[G3SG1]

or I will bomb the crap out of you.

Your humorous threat was categorized as a serious one by the Homeland Security humorless supercomputer .:) I hope you went through the KEAP P.O.W. school during the army service.

[zema_06]

in the end the information collected under this programme ends up in some us database...fortunately the EU blocked the SWIFT-Terrorist Finance Tracking Programme agreement, which was clearly another example of us arrogance and one-way communication...

[Vorian]

Lol, hadn't though of that. I should be worried then when I reach the airport. Black ops and all.