More than half of Americans (53%) support lifting visa requirements for Romanian nationals travelling to the US, according to a survey conducted in the US by The Bullfinch Group in partnership with Romania's INSCOP Research, February 19-23.

Asked if they support or oppose adding Romania, an ally of the US that supports US policies around the world, to the Visa Waiver Program, which currently allows citizens of 40 countries to travel to the US for tourism or business stays of 90 days or less without first obtaining a visa, most Americans (53%) said that they support the abolition of visas for Romanian citizens. Only 21% oppose the abolition of visas, while 25% have not formed an opinion, being unsure.

In terms of political options, the highest support for abolishing visas for Romanian citizens is among Democratic voters. Thus, 57% of Democratic Party voters support Romania's inclusion in the Visa Waiver program, while 15% oppose it and 28% are undecided.

Half (50%) of the Republican Party voters support the abolition of visas for Romanian citizens, 29% oppose, and 21% are undecided.

The support of independent voters for the abolition of visas for Romanians is similar to that recorded among the general population. Thus, 54% of independent voters support the inclusion of Romania in the Visa Waiver program, while 21% oppose it and 25% are unsure.

"Our data clearly shows that Americans have a very positive opinion of allied countries that support US policies around the world and that Americans do not perceive Romania as a source of illegal immigration. That is why most Americans support the inclusion of Romania in the Visa Waiver Program; the percentage of those who oppose it is significantly lower. It is also very relevant that there is absolutely no category of population that we tested in the US which the percentage of those who oppose the abolition of visas for Romanian citizens is higher than the percentage of those who support the abolition of visas," Brett Loyd, president and CEO of The Bullfinch Group, is quoted as saying in a press statement released by INSCOP Research on Thursday.

For his part, Remus Stefureac, president of Strategic Thinking Group, said that the data could further contribute to Romania's admission to the Visa Waiver Program.

"Data show very clearly that the share of the US population, registered voters from all the political quarters (Democrats, Republicans or independents) who support the abolition of visas for Romanian citizens is more than double than the share of those who oppose it. The findings may further contribute to the efforts to persuade members of the US Congress and the US administration to include Romania, one of America's most reliable allies, in the Visa Waiver program," Stefureac is quoted as saying in his turn in the statement.

The national opinion poll in the United States was conducted by The Bullfinch Group in partnership with INSCOP Research as part of a research project initiated by the think tank STRATEGIC Thinking Group / Strategic Thinking Group. The data were collected February 19-23, 2022, through telephone interviews; the volume of the sample is 1,044 registered voters. The maximum permissible data error is ą 3%. AGERPRES (RO - author: Florentina Peia, editor: Claudia Stanescu; EN - author: Corneliu-Aurelian Colceriu, editor: Adina Panaitescu)