<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<REGINFO_RIN_DATA xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" RUN_DATE="2026-04-28-04:00" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/xml/REGINFO_XML_Ver10262011.xsd">
    <RIN_INFO>
        <RIN>1601-AA54</RIN>
        <PUBLICATION>
            <PUBLICATION_ID>200904</PUBLICATION_ID>
            <PUBLICATION_TITLE>Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions</PUBLICATION_TITLE>
        </PUBLICATION>
        <AGENCY>
            <CODE>1601</CODE>
            <NAME>Office of the Secretary</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>OS</ACRONYM>
        </AGENCY>
        <PARENT_AGENCY>
            <CODE>1600</CODE>
            <NAME>Department of Homeland Security</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>DHS</ACRONYM>
        </PARENT_AGENCY>
        <RULE_TITLE>Additional Countries Designated for the Visa Waiver Program</RULE_TITLE>
        <ABSTRACT><![CDATA[Citizens and eligible nationals of participating Visa Waiver Program countries may apply for admission to the United States at a U.S. port of entry as nonimmigrant aliens for a period of ninety days or less for business or pleasure without first obtaining a nonimmigrant visa, provided that they are otherwise eligible for admission under applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.  DHS has issued two rules adding countries to the list of countries authorized to participate in the Visa Waiver Program. The first rule added the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Republic of Korea and the Slovak Republic.  The second rule added Malta.]]></ABSTRACT>
        <PRIORITY_CATEGORY>Substantive, Nonsignificant</PRIORITY_CATEGORY>
        <RIN_STATUS>First Time Published in The Unified Agenda</RIN_STATUS>
        <RULE_STAGE>Completed Actions</RULE_STAGE>
        <MAJOR>No</MAJOR>
        <UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
            <UNFUNDED_MANDATE>No</UNFUNDED_MANDATE>
        </UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
        <CFR_LIST>
            <CFR>8 CFR 217.2</CFR>
        </CFR_LIST>
        <LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>8 USC 1187</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
        </LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
        <LEGAL_DLINE_LIST/>
        <RPLAN_ENTRY>No</RPLAN_ENTRY>
        <TIMETABLE_LIST>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Final Rule; Technical Amendment</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>11/17/2008</TTBL_DATE>
                <FR_CITATION>73 FR 67711</FR_CITATION>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Final Rule Effective</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>11/17/2008</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Final Rule; Technical Amendment</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>12/30/2008</TTBL_DATE>
                <FR_CITATION>73 FR 79595</FR_CITATION>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Final  Rule Effective</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>12/30/2008</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
        </TIMETABLE_LIST>
        <RFA_REQUIRED>No</RFA_REQUIRED>
        <SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
            <SMALL_ENTITY>No</SMALL_ENTITY>
        </SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
        <GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>None</GOVT_LEVEL>
        </GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
        <FEDERALISM>No</FEDERALISM>
        <ENERGY_AFFECTED>No</ENERGY_AFFECTED>
        <FURTHER_INFO_URL>www.regulations.gov</FURTHER_INFO_URL>
        <PUBLIC_COMMENT_URL>www.regulations.gov</PUBLIC_COMMENT_URL>
        <PRINT_PAPER>No</PRINT_PAPER>
        <INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>No</INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>
        <AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
            <CONTACT>
                <FIRST_NAME>Marc</FIRST_NAME>
                <LAST_NAME>Frey</LAST_NAME>
                <TITLE>Director, Visa Waiver Program</TITLE>
                <AGENCY>
                    <CODE>1600</CODE>
                    <NAME>Department of Homeland Security</NAME>
                    <ACRONYM>DHS</ACRONYM>
                </AGENCY>
                <PHONE>202 282-9555</PHONE>
                <EMAIL>marc.frey@dhs.gov</EMAIL>
                <MAILING_ADDRESS>
                    <STREET_ADDRESS></STREET_ADDRESS>
                    <CITY>Washington</CITY>
                    <STATE>DC</STATE>
                    <ZIP>20393</ZIP>
                </MAILING_ADDRESS>
            </CONTACT>
        </AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
    </RIN_INFO>
</REGINFO_RIN_DATA>
