The US increased the terms of its visa waiver program for Hungarian nationals on Tuesday, blaming Budapest for failing to “address the security vulnerabilities” resulting from passports issued since 2011.
Washington has often criticized Hungary’s fast-track passport system, implemented by nationalist leader Viktor Orban, which has resulted in approximately a million people becoming naturalized Hungarians since 2011.
The majority come from nations bordering Hungary, where over two million ethnic Hungarians dwell as a result of a post-World War I deal that reduced the country’s borders.
After investigators discovered a fraud scheme that allowed non-Hungarians to enter the US under false identities, the US threatened to revoke visa waivers for Hungarian passport holders in 2018.
Hungary’s simplified naturalisation process during that period lacked “adequate security measures… to verify identities,” said a statement by the US embassy in Budapest.
“In light of… Hungary’s decision not to fully address the security vulnerabilities created by its earlier implementation of its simplified naturalisation process, procedures for all Hungarian passport holders to utilise the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) have been modified,” it said.
Starting Tuesday, the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) validity period for travel by Hungarian passport holders will be “reduced from two years to one year”, it added.
“Additionally, the validity of an ESTA for Hungarian passport holders will be limited to a single use,” the statement said.
Countries participating in the visa waiver program are permitted to visit the United States for vacation or business for up to 90 days without a visa if they have secured an ESTA.
The interior ministry of Hungary slammed the US move, claiming that Washington’s request for “data of Hungarians (living) abroad with dual citizenship” will not be met.
“The safety of Hungarians abroad is at stake. That is why President Joe Biden’s government is now taking revenge on the Hungarians!” it said in a statement.
Since gaining power in 2010, Orban has frequently fought with the United States and the European Union on allegations that he has led Hungary down an authoritarian path.
Orban, who is close to former US President Donald Trump, has accused the current administration of attempting to undermine his government and empower the Hungarian opposition.
