Citizens of the Czech Republic are soon expected to be allowed to enter the US for brief holiday and business visits without the requirement to first apply for a US visa.

The US has had a visa waiver program for citizens of selected countries since 1986. Normally, foreign Nationals are required to apply for a US visa at an American consular post before entering the US. The US visa waiver program allows holiday and business visits for up to 90 days without a visa, provided the visitor has a departure ticket to leave within 90 days of entry and is otherwise admissible under US law. The US generally does not allow countries to participate in the program if there is a high rate of visa application refusal to that country's citizens.

President Bush is expected to sign this legislation into law soon.