US to tighten visa restrictions for Europe, Japan

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The US government is set to announce Tuesday tighter visa restrictions for short-term travelers from Japan and Western Europe, a Department of Homeland security official told AFP.

DHS secretary Michael Chertoff is to unveil the change at 11:00 am (1500 GMT), which applies to nationals of the 27 countries currently listed under the visa waiver program, a DHS official told AFP.

The new rules, to take effect in January, will require three days' advance registration and aim to make it more difficult for potential terrorists to enter the United States from places such as France, Germany, Switzerland, Britain, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, Singapore, New Zealand, Japan and Australia.

The government will ask for the same information that travelers...