You're reading: Obama promises to press visa free travel for Poles

President Barack Obama is assuring Poland that he will press lawmakers to include it in a program for visa-free U.S. travel.

Obama said that he had told Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski in a White House meeting Wednesday that he will make the issue a priority. He said that he hoped it could be solved in his presidency.

Citizens from most European countries can already travel to the United States without visas. Poland has so far not been able to meet the requirements for the program.

Obama stressed that the problem could only be solved through legislation. Lawmakers have resisted loosening the requirements because they worry that the visa-waiver program could make it easier for terrorists to slip into the United States.