BUDAPEST, Aug 1, 2023 (BSS/AFP) - The United States tightened the conditions 
under its visa waivers programme for Hungarian citizens Tuesday due to what 
it called Budapest's failure to "address the security vulnerabilities" 
emanating from passports issued since 2011.

Washington has repeatedly criticised Hungary's fast-track passport system 
brought in by nationalist leader Viktor Orban -- which has seen about a 
million people becoming naturalised Hungarians since 2011 -- for being prone 
to "security breaches".

Most are from countries neighbouring Hungary where around two million ethnic-
Hungarians live, a legacy of a post-World War I treaty that shrank the 
country's borders. 

In 2018, the US threatened to scrap visa waivers for Hungarian passport 
holders after officials uncovered a fraud scheme that has let non-Hungarians 
allegedly enter the US under false identities.

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 allowed to travel to 
the US for tourism or business for up to 90 days without a visa, as long as 
they have obtained an ESTA. 

Hungary's interior ministry blasted the US move, saying that Washington's 
request for "data of Hungarians (living) abroad with dual citizenship" would 
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 taking office in 2010, Orban has regularly clashed with the US and the 
European Union over charges he has steered Hungary down an authoritarian 
path.

Close to former US President Donald Trump, Orban has accused the current 
administration of trying to weaken his government and strengthen the 
Hungarian opposition.