The Prime Minister has asked the US Secretary of State to consider a scheme designed to cut down on waiting times for Australian citizens on arrival at US airports.
Kevin Rudd has spent the day in meetings with the top level of the US administration and began the day by meeting President George W Bush.
Under the scheme, US Immigration Department officials would work in Australian airports, which would mean Australians would not have to queue for as long at customs when arriving in the US.
A similar scheme operates on a trial basis for Canadians and Mexicans.
Earlier in the day, Mr Rudd and Mr Bush shared a lunch of steak and coconut cream tart with others, including vice-president Dick Cheney and Dr Rice.
Then Mr Rudd went into a series of meetings including one with Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, discussing the global economic instability caused by the US credit crunch.
After their talks today, Mr Rudd and Mr Bush emphasised the strength of the relationship between the two nations.
Troop commitment assurance
Mr Rudd told Mr Bush that Australian troops are in Afghanistan for the long haul.
Mr Bush has welcomed Australia's continuing commitment to the war in Afghanistan and has also accepted Mr Rudd's decision to bring troops home from Iraq.
Mr Rudd is attending the NATO summit next week in Bucharest where he says he will urge European nations to share more of the load.
"To then say to all of our friends and partners let's all step up to the plate to make this work - and across the country of Afghanistan not just in parts of it," Mr Rudd said.
Mr Bush welcomed Mr Rudd's message to NATO.
"The Prime Minister and I discussed how Bucharest can become a success and I can't thank you enough for going," Mr Bush said.
The meeting of Mr Bush and Mr Rudd in Washington at the White House this morning was part of the first leg in Mr Rudd's 17-day overseas trip to build foreign policy.
Source: By Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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