US govt to tighten visa-free travel rules

WASHINGTON, D.C.: The US administration backs a bill that would make it harder for visitors to Iraq, Syria and countries listed as supporting terrorism to travel visa-free to the United States, the State Department said Wednesday.

The House of Representatives voted 407 to 19 on Tuesday in support of the Visa Waiver Program Improvement Act of 2015, a measure the White House supports on the heels of deadly attacks in Paris that were conducted by extremists who could have traveled to the United States without a visa.