Honorary Consulate of Romania to Kentucky

🇷🇴 Immigration Information Series – Special Update

👉 If you’re applying for H-1B or know someone who is — this update matters.

H-1B Visa Process — What Changed?

Recent updates to the H-1B visa process in the United States focus on how applicants are selected, not on the number of visas available.

🔹 What changed?

The H-1B lottery is now based on the individual applicant (beneficiary) rather than the number of employer registrations submitted.

👉 This means:

• Each applicant generally receives one chance in the lottery
• Multiple employer registrations no longer increase chances

🔹 Old vs New (Simplified)

Old system:

• Multiple registrations could increase odds
• The same applicant could be submitted by multiple employers
• Selection was effectively employer-based

New system:

• One applicant = one entry
• Only one registration per applicant
• Selection is now beneficiary-based

🔹 Why this change?

According to U.S. immigration authorities, this update aims to:

• Improve fairness
• Reduce duplicate filings
• Prevent misuse of the system

🔹 Important to understand

This is a process change, not a change in:

• Visa eligibility
• Total number of visas (~85,000 annually)
• Employer sponsorship requirements

⚠️ Disclaimer
This information is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Individuals should consult a qualified immigration attorney regarding their specific situation.

Dan Ozarchevici
Honorary Consulate of Romania to Kentucky

🇷🇴 Astăzi sărbătorim Ziua Pașaportului Românesc.

La 19 martie 1912 a fost promulgată prima lege modernă privind pașapoartele în România, marcând începutul evoluției acestui document esențial pentru libera circulație.

De-a lungul timpului, pașaportul românesc a evoluat de la un document simplu la un instrument modern, securizat, care permite cetățenilor români să călătorească fără viză în peste 170 de state.

Astăzi, datorită digitalizării, procesul de eliberare a pașaportului a devenit mai rapid și mai accesibil.

Pașaportul românesc rămâne nu doar un document de călătorie, ci și un simbol al identității și libertății de mișcare.

La mulți ani Pașaportului Românesc! 🇷🇴

Preluat de la
Consulatul General al României la New York.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1DmsmWy6Jr/

⚓ Europe’s Largest Maritime Training Center Opens in Constanța

Romania has inaugurated Europe’s largest maritime training center in Constanța, marking a major step forward for maritime education and safety in the Black Sea region.

Located on the shores of the Black Sea, the new facility features advanced simulators and training systems designed to prepare seafarers for complex navigation, offshore operations, and emergency scenarios.

The center will support the training of thousands of maritime professionals each year, strengthening Romania’s long-standing role as a hub for maritime expertise. ⚓🌍

*Photo: www.ceronav.ro

Americans in the Middle East who need consular assistance can enroll to receive the latest updates at Step.State.Gov or call the 24/7 State Department task force at +1-202-501-4444.

🇷🇴 Driving in Romania with a U.S. Driver’s License – Legislative Update

Good news for travelers between the United States and Romania.

Romanian legislation clarifies that foreign visitors may drive in Romania using a valid national driver’s license issued by their home country, including licenses issued in the United States.

The legal framework is based on:

📄 Art. 83 – OUG nr. 195/2002 privind circulația pe drumurile publice

📄 Updated implementing provisions through Hotărârea Guvernului nr. 795/2025

Under these provisions:

✔ Visitors temporarily present in Romania may drive using a valid U.S. driver’s license

✔ An International Driving Permit (IDP) is not required by Romanian traffic law

An international permit may still be useful as a translation document, and some car rental companies may request it as part of their internal policies, but it is not a legal requirement under Romanian road traffic legislation.

This clarification helps simplify travel for tourists, business visitors, and members of the Romanian diaspora returning to visit Romania.

Authority:
Ministerul Afacerilor Interne – Poliția Rutieră / DRPCIV

⚠️ Disclaimer:
This information is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Travelers should verify current requirements with Romanian authorities or rental companies before driving.

Dan Ozarchevici
Honorary Consulate of Romania to Kentucky

🌷 International Women’s Day – March 8

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Embassy of Romania to the United States extends its warmest wishes to all women.

Happy Women’s Day! 🌸

🇷🇴 From Bucharest to the Biggest Stages in Sport

Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Alcaraz, and Jannik Sinner are among the elite athletes using WHOOP — a performance wearable co-created by Romanian entrepreneur Aurelian Nicolae, a Harvard graduate.

WHOOP bracelets monitor sleep, physical strain, heart rate, and blood oxygen at a professional level. Cristiano Ronaldo even revealed that his biological age measures 28.9 — not 40 — thanks to the data-driven insights behind his training and recovery.

Romanian innovation, global performance. 🇷🇴🚀

📌 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭̦𝐢𝐢 𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐮 𝐨𝐛𝐭̦𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐝𝐚̆ 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐚̆𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐮 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢 𝐬̦𝐢 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭̦𝐢𝐢 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐞

Pentru a vă putea programa în cel mai scurt timp, vă rugăm să aveți în vedere următoarele:

✅ 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐭̦𝐢 𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚
👉 www.econsulat.ro

🪪 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐞 𝐝𝐞 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 pentru autentificarea actelor notariale:
• cartea de identitate românească
• pașaportul românesc
• pașaportul american (toate în termen de valabilitate)

❗ Permisul de conducere american și certificatul de naștere NU sunt considerate acte de identitate.

📝 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐮𝐢 𝐝𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐚̆ / 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭̦𝐢𝐞

• Alegeți tipul de document din Lista disponibilă în secțiunea „Detalii cerere” (ex.: succesiune, pensie, administrare și conservare, vânzare etc.)

• Dacă niciun model nu corespunde situației dvs., selectați „Alt model de procură” și atașați modelul de procură în format Word.
📎 Documente necesare care trebuie atașate în cerere (după caz)

• Procură de succesiune: certificatul de deces

• Procură de vânzare: dovada proprietății

• Alte tipuri de procuri: documentele relevante situației dvs.

⏱️ 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐫

Toate cererile sunt verificate de Consulat în termen de aprox. 2 zile lucrătoare.

✔️ Dacă dosarul este complet, cererea va fi prevalidată, iar dumneavoastră veți putea selecta data și ora programării.

💡 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭̦𝐢𝐢 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞

✔️ Actele notariale sunt eliberate gratuit de către Consulat.

ℹ️ Pentru actele cu incidență notarială se percepe o taxă de înregistrare în registrele Infonot din România, echivalent a 3 euro, conform reglementărilor în vigoare.

⚠️ 𝐀𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭̦𝐢𝐞!

Actele eliberate de notari publici din Statele Unite nu îndeplinesc condițiile de autentificare notarială și pot fi respinse în procedurile notariale din România.

🍀 Today marks the traditional beginning of spring! In Romania we celebrate every March 1st the Mărțișor.

🌞 Mărțișor is a beloved Romanian tradition which marks the transition to spring. Mărțișor, diminutive of Marț (the old folk name of the month of March in Romanian), refers to a small ornament adorned with a cord of intertwined strings of red and white. These tokens of spring function as a sort of talisman which attracts good luck, health and prosperity. Thousands of mărțișoare are made in different shapes and colors, with the red and white cord being the essential part, and are mostly offered to women.

🌹We wish you all a beautiful spring!