Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked and US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas have agreed on February 2023 as the goal date for a visa waiver for Israeli citizens traveling to the US.
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Shaked told Israel Hayom that her meeting with Mayorkas on Wednesday had been very positive and that the US administration "at every level" was committed to bringing Israel into the US visa waiver program.
"This is a one-time opportunity that won't come back, so both countries need to work quickly. I'm very hopeful and motivated to conclude a process that has been under discussion between the two countries for many years," Shaked said.
"It will take at least a year, but I'm optimistic," the interior minister added.
The main obstacle remaining will be to bring down the percentage of Israeli visa applications currently denied on various grounds. To join the visa waiver program, a country's refusal rate must be below 3%.
For years, the US Embassy has denied some 5% of visa requests.
"I believe that the process can be completed by early 2023," Shaked told Israeli media.
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i24NEWS contributed to this report
