Visa Waiver Program (VWP)
By September 30, 2004, U.S.-VISIT procedures will be expanded to
include visitors traveling to the United States under the Visa Waiver
Program arriving at airports and seaports of entry. For updated
information please visit the Visa
News site.
By October 26, 2004, VWP travelers must present a valid machine-readable
passport (MRP) or U.S. visa for admission to the U.S.
Visa Waiver Program nationals who do not have machine-readable
passports must obtain a U.S. Nonimmigrant visa in order to enter
the United States for business or tourism. This requirement
applies to all passport types, including tourist, diplomatic, and
official passports.
This change affects only travel under the Visa Waiver Program.
Applicants for visas at U.S. consular sections are not required
to have a machine-readable passport, regardless of the category
of visa being sought. Non-machine-readable passports will
also remain valid for Transit Without Visa (TWOV) purposes.
The TWOV program, and the Visa Waiver Program are separate and distinct.
Families and groups should obtain an individual passport for each
traveler, including infants. Machine-readable passports typically
have biographical data for only one traveler in the machine-readable
zone. Families may be denied visa-free entry into the U.S.
if only the data for one traveler is machine-readable.
Travelers carrying Belgian passports must have a machine-readable
passport or appropriate B visa on or after May 15, 2003.
Overview
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables citizens of certain countries
to travel to the United States for tourism or business for 90 days
or less without obtaining a visa. Not all countries participate
in the VWP. Some restrictions apply to this visa as explained below.
What Are the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) Countries?
Currently, 27 countries participate in the Visa Waiver Program,
as shown below:
Visa Waiver Program - Participating Countries
Andorra
celand
Norway
Australia
Ireland
Portugal
Austria
Italy
San Marino
Belgium
Japan
Singapore
Brunei
Liechtenstein
Slovenia
Denmark
Luxembourg
Spain
Finland
Monaco
Sweden
France
the Netherlands
Switzerland
German
New Zealand
United Kingdom
To enter
the U.S. on Visa Waiver program, travelers from participating countries
must:
- Be seeking entry for 90 days or less, as a temporary visitor;
- Be a citizen (not merely a resident) of the Visa Waiver country;
- Have a valid passport issued by the participating country. Additionally,
starting October 1, 2003, the passport presented at the U.S. port
of entry must be a machine readable passport;
- If entering by air or sea, have a round-trip transportation
ticket issued on a carrier that has signed an agreement with the
U.S. government to participate in the VWP, and arrive in the United
States aboard such a carrier.
- Hold a completed and signed Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver Arrival-Departure
Record, Form I-94W, on which he/she has waived the right of review
or appeal of an immigration officer’s determination about
admissibility, or deportation. These forms are available from
participating carriers, from travel agents, and at land-border
ports-of-entry. (Travelers should consult carriers to verify which
ones are participating before making travel arrangements.)
- Entry at a land border crossing point from Canada or Mexico
is permitted under the Visa Waiver Program. Travelers who apply
for entry at a land border crossing point are not required to
present round-trip transportation tickets or arrive at the border
entry point aboard a carrier who has signed an agreement with
the U.S. to participate in the Visa Waiver Program. All other
Visa Waiver Program requirements apply to such travelers.
What Can I Do in the United States If I Enter on the VWP?
You can use the Visa Waiver program for business and tourism. You
can do things on the Visa Waiver program that you can do on the
B-1/B-2 nonimmigrant visa. If you don't know whether your planned
activities are permitted on the VWP, please contact the consular
section of the embassy or consulate that serves your area for information.
You cannot study or work on the VWP. You can get married to an
American citizen, but you can not adjust status to permanent resident
(get a green card) after your marriage.
How Long Can I Stay in the United States?
You can stay in the United States for 90 days. You cannot extend
your status (stay longer than 90 days). You can not change to another
visa status. For example, you cannot change from a Visa Waiver program
status to student visa status.
What Is a Machine Readable Passport?
A machine readable passport has biographical data entered on the
data page according to international specifications. The size of
the passport and photograph, and arrangement of data fields, especially
the two lines of printed OCR-B machine readable data, meet the standards
of the International Civil Aviation Organization, Doc 9303, Part
1 Machine Readable Passports. OCR-B means the type is Optical Character
Reader size B.
Can I Enter on Any Airline or Boat?
No. Not all transportation companies (shipping lines or airlines)
have agreements with the U.S. Government to participate in the VWP.
Ask the airline or shipping line you intend to travel on if it has
a VWP agreement with the U.S. Government.
Can I Enter at a Land Border from Canada or Mexico on the VWP?
Yes. If you are a citizen from a Visa Waiver country, you can enter
the United States on the Visa Waiver program from Canada and Mexico.
You do not have to show round-trip tickets. You do not have to arrive
at the land border on a carrier (form of transportation) which has
an agreement with the U. S. Government.
Where Do I Get the I-94 W?
You can get the Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver Arrival-Departure Record,
Form I-94W from airlines and travel agents and at ports of entry
at land borders.
Is there Any Fee?
There is a small filing fee for the Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver Arrival-Departure
Record, Form I-94W from airlines. Select USCIS
Forms and Fees to go to the Department of Homeland Security’s
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Internet site
to learn more.
What If I Am a Resident but Not a Citizen of a VWP Country?
You must be a citizen of a VWP country to participate. If you are
a resident only, you must apply for a visa at the consulate or embassy
that serves your area before you travel.
When Does a Citizen of a VWP Country Need to Apply for a Visa?
You must apply for a visa under the following circumstances, if
you:
How Does a Country Qualify for Visa Waiver?
Select Visa
Waiver Program – How a Country Qualifies to learn more.
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