Chinese and Russian tourists are being excluded from a visa waiver program being instituted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in the Western Pacific.

The program covering the U.S. territory of Guam and the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands is to go into effect Nov. 28.

The Homeland Security regulation covering the program said China and Russia are being excluded “due to political, security, and law enforcement concerns.”

Under the program, citizens of Australia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom can enter Guam and the Northern Marianas for 45 days visa-free.

Citizens of other countries must obtain a visa from a U.S. embassy or consulate.

I’m not sure how I’d feel if I was excluded from visiting a place. Now that I think about it, I probably am excluded from visiting certain countries. Do China and Russia exclude people from Guam?

It’s possible, I should look it up.

References:

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090818/BREAKING01/90818008/Russia++China+excluded+from+Guam+visa+program

http://travel.state.gov/