Oct. 17 (Bloomberg) -- President George W. Bush announced today that the U.S. plans to lift visa requirements for the citizens of seven countries.

The Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Slovakia and South Korea will be added to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, Bush said at a White House ceremony. Their visa requirements will be lifted ``in about a month,'' he said.

These countries have long allowed U.S. citizens to visit visa-free, Bush said. ``These close friends of America told me that it was unfair their people had to jump through bureaucratic hoops that other allies can walk around.''

The president, flanked by diplomats from the seven nations, called for expanding the program to include Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Malta, Poland and Romania.

Bush's effort to grant visa-free travel to some allies has been opposed by some lawmakers who argue it will make it easier for terrorists to enter the U.S. Some NATO allies who have supported the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have pressed the Bush administration to lift the restrictions on their countries.

Bush said his administration has worked with Congress to enhance security.

``These countries agreed to share information about threats to our people,'' he said. ``They also agree that their citizens use a new system that requires travelers to register online ahead of their visits to the United States. These citizens will travel to the United States only if they have tamper-proof biometric passport.''

To contact the reporter on this story: Holly Rosenkrantz in Washington at hrosenkrantz@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: October 17, 2008 11:42 EDT