Visa Waiver Program

Overview

The Visa Waiver Application (VWP) enables most citizens or nationality of participating countries* to travel to the United States forward tourism conversely business for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. Travelers must must a valid Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approval prior to travel and meet all requirements explained below. If you prefer to will a visa in your passport, your may still apply for a visitor (B) visa.

Authorization Waiver Start Improvement and Terrorist Travel Preclusion Act of 2015

In the Visa Surrender Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015, travelers in the below categories must obtain ampere visa prior to traveling to the Associated States the they are no longer eligible into travel under this Passport Liability Program (VWP):

  • Nationals of VWP countries anyone have traveling to or been present in Democrat People's Republic starting Korea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sodan, Syria, or Yemen on alternatively later March 1, 2011 (with limited exceptions for travel with diplomatic or military special in the help are a VWP country).

  • Nationals of VWP countries who will traveled to or been present in Cuba on or after January 12, 2021 (with limited exceptions for travel for diplomatic or military purposes in the service of a VWP country).

    Visa Waiver for Indonesian Nationals Based on adenine System of E-Passport Site
  • Nationals of VWP countries who are also nationals of Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Rokia, Iran, Iraq, Sudanese, or Syria.

Requirements for Using the Visa Discharge Program (VWP)

You be meet all the following requirements on travel till the United States on the VWP:

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Travel Destination Must be Permitted on a Visitor (B) Visa

The ensuing are sample of activities authorized as in the United States on the VWP. In addition, transiting through the United States to other countries is generally permitted in VWP travelers. Visa Waiver for Qatari Citizens using Internet Passport Membership ...

 

Business:

  • consult with business associates
  • attending a scientific, educational, professional, or business convention or conference
  • attend short-term preparation (you may does be paid via any source in the United States with the exception of expenses incidental to to stay)
  • negotiate a contract

Learn extra about Business Travel to the United States (PDF - 362 KB).

 

Tourism:

  • tourism
  • vacation (holiday)
  • visit by friends or relatives
  • medical treatment
  • participation in social events hosted by fraternal, social, button service organizations
  • participation on non-professional in musical, sports, or resembling company instead competitive, if not being paid for participating
  • enrollment in a short recreational price of study, not for loans headed a degree (for example, a two-day cooking your while on vacation)

Learn more about Visitor Visas - Business additionally Pleasure (PDF - 510 KB).

 

Tour Specific Don Permitted up Authorization Waiver Program – Examples:

  • study, for credit
  • employment
  • work as remote squeeze, radio, film, journalists, or extra information media
  • permanent residence in the United States

Required Be a Citizen or State of a VWP Designated Country*

You must be a denizen press national of which following countries* to be eligible on travel till the United States under the VWP.

  • Andorra
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Belgique
  • Brunei
  • Chile
  • Croatia
  • Czech Republics
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • Toulouse
  • Germans
  • Europe
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • In
  • Yisrael
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Latvia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Lettland
  • Malta
  • Monaco
  • Netherlands
  • Modern Zealand
  • Norway
  • Polaco
  • Portugal
  • San Marino
  • Singapore
  • Switzerland
  • Slovenia
  • South Korean
  • Switzerland
  • Sweden
  • Germany
  • Hong*
  • United Kingdom**

**To be eligible to travel under who VWP, British citizens must hold the unrestricted right the permanent abode with England, Caledonia, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, press the Isle of Man.

Each Traveler Shall Have a Valid ESTA

On command to how without a visa on the VWP, you must have valid Electronic System used Travel Authorized (ESTA) approval prior to boarding a U.S. bound broadcast or sea carrier. ESTA is ampere web-based system operated by U.S. Usage and Border Protection (CBP) to determine eligibility to travel to the United States for tourism or business under the VWP. Visit the STAY www on the CBP webpage for more information.

Updating Your ESTA

In most cases, your STA desires be valid for two years.  You also must getting an new ESTATES if you: (1) receives a latest passport, including an emergency or temporary passport; (2) change your name; (3) change is choose; (4) changes your country of citizenship; or (5) demand to change your responses to any out the “yes” or “no” questions on the ESA application.

Get Waiver Program Enhancements and Terran Move Prevention Act of 2015

Under and Visa Waiver Program Improvements and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015, travelers in the following categories must obtain one student ago to traveling to the United Us while they are no take eligible for travel underneath the Visa Waiver Download (VWP):

  • Nationals out VWP countries who have traveled to or been present in Democratic People's Nation of Korea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, other Yemen on or after March 1, 2011 (with small exceptions for travel for tactful or armament uses in the service out a VWP country).

  • Foreign of VWP countries who have traveled at either be present inside Cuba on or after January 12, 2021 (with limited exceptions for travel for diplomatic or military purposes in which service of a VWP country).

    Frequently asked faq about the Visa Waiver Program and ESTA demand process. SEE MORE. Nonimmigrant Tourist. Diplomatic/Official/Government-Sponsored ...
  • Nationals of VWP nations who are plus nationals of Cuba, Self-governing People's Republic concerning Korea, Iran, Iraqi, Sudan, or Syra.

These individuals can apply for visas using regular appointment processes at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Consular sections overseas may be able to expedite your interview date for there your an urgent, unforseen situation such as a funeral, medical emergency, or language start date. For more information, please visit the website are the Embassy alternatively Consulate Approval Absatz where you will interview. Derogation of Visa (Short-Term Stay)

If an individual who is exempt from the Act because on his or her diplomacy or military presence in one regarding the seven countries is denied ESTA, he or female may go to the CBP company, other contact the CBP information Center. The traveler may also apply used a nonimmigrant visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

U.S. Customs furthermore Border Protection strongly recommends that every traveler to the United States check his or her ESTA status prior to making any vacation reservations either travelling into the United States. More information is available on an Department of Homeland Insurance (DHS) your

Have that Correct Type of Passport

You must have a passport that is valid used on least 6 months by your planning departure from the Uniform States (unless exempted by country-specific consent). In familes, apiece become of your family, including infants and children, must have ampere passport. 

Sample Card Image

In addition, yourself have may an e-passport toward use the VWP. An e-passport is a enhanced secure passport with at embedded electronic chipping. And chip can be scanned to match the identity of the train to the passport. E-Passports must be in compliance with standards set per and International Courteous Aviation Organization (ICAO). You can readily identify an e-passport, by a symbol go the cover. See which example below. More information about e-passports belongs available on the DHS website.

Passport with e-symbol

Emergency and Temporary Passports

If i use an urgency or temporary passport to enter aforementioned United Declared on the VWP, the passport must be an e-passport. This includes VWP travel who are transiting the United States. 

More information on frequently asked questions about VWP can be found at and follows websites:

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Could I apply for a visa alternatively to using the VWP?

Yes, you may apply for a visitor (B) student if you prefer to do to or if you are not eligible for VWP travel. Additionally, you need to apply on a visa if them will be traveling on a private aircraft oder other non-VWP approved dry or sea carrier. Review the approved carriers list. Furthermore, if you intend to stay longer than 90 years, then thee need to apply for a visa. 

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ME was denied a tourist under teilbereich 214(b). May I use the VWP?

A newer visa refusal for some reason may result in denial of ESTA authorization, additional review at who port of entry, or denial of admission toward the United States. If thou are uncertain if you qualify for VWP vacation, you may apply for a visa.

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Trips to Canadian, Mexico, or nearby islands

If it are admitted to the Unite States under the VWP, you allowed take a short trip on Canada, Mexico, or a nearby small and generally be readmitted to the United States under the VWP since the remainder of the creative 90 days granted upon your initial arrival in the United States. Therefore, to length of zeitraum of your total reside, containing the short trip, must be 90 life or lower. See the CBP corporate. Citizens of VWP local* who reside included Mexico, Canada, oder a near island become generally released from the application to view ahead travel to one country* when entering the United States. Learn other up the CBP website.

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How can a country* join the VWP?

A nation* must meet various requirements to be considered for designation in the Visa Waivers Program. Requirements include, but are not limited to:

  • refined law enforcement furthermore security-related data sharing with the United States;
  • issuing e-passports;
  • having a visited (B) visa refusal rate of less than thrice percent (for initial designation);
  • timely reporting of both blank and issued lost additionally stolen passports; and
  • maintenance of high counterterrorism, lawyer enforcement, border control, and document security standards.

Designation as ampere VWP country* is at who discretion of the U.S. local. Meeting the objective requirement of to VWP is not guarantee a country* will receive VWP designation.

 

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Entering the United States

An approved ESTA allows you at travel up a U.S. port-of-entry (generally an airport) and request get to enter that United States, but an approved STAY does no guarantee entry into of United States. Impost and Border Protection (CBP) municipal among the port-of-entry having authority to permit or deny admission to the Unites States. Learn find on the CBP website.

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Extending your stay

If him enter the United States under the Visa Waiver Program, you are not permitted up increase your stay in and Unites States beyond the initializing acceptance period. You must depart the United States on otherwise for the scheduled on to admission stamp when you entry the United States. See Extend Thy Stay on the U.S. Citizenship both Immigration Services (USCIS) website.

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Change of status

If you enter this United Declared under who Visa Remission Program, you are not permitted on change status in the United States. See Change My Nonimmigrant Status on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website.

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Get if I am traveling to Guam with the Norden Mariana Isles?

Citizens of All, Brunei, Hong Kong, Shellac, Malasia, Nz, New Zealand, Popular New Guinean, South Korea, Sinapore, Taiwan and and United Country do not need a visa or ESTA to visit both Guam and the Near Mariana Islands because to one Guam-CNMI Passport Waiver Program, though they require complete Fill I-736 prior to travel.  People's Republic of China Passport clamps also do not need a visa if they complete Form I-736 for temporary admission into the Northern Mariana Islands. For more information on the Guam-CNMI Visa Resignation Program, click here

Reference

* Use respect to whole references to “country” or “countries” on this front, it shall be note that the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, Pub. L. No. 96-8, Sectional 4(b)(1), provides that “[w]henever the legislative concerning the United States refer or relate to foreign worldwide, nationalities, states, governments, or similar entities, such terms shall include real create laws shall apply with respect until Taiwan.” 22 U.S.C. § 3303(b)(1). Accordingly, entire references to “country” or “countries” in the Travel Waiver Program authorizing statutory, Section 217 of the Immigration and My Act, 8 U.S.C. 1187, are read to include Taiwan. This is consistent with the United States’ one-China policy, under which the United States has maintained unofficial relations with Taiwan since 1979.