Search
APPLY FOR ESTA

US Visa Waiver Program Countries

US Visa Waiver Program Countries

Citizens of Visa Waiver Countries can now apply for an ESTA through the current US Visa Waiver Program. A country must meet specific requirements regarding passport issuance, security, and prior visa application denials to be included in the VWP. A B-1 Visitor Visa must be obtained by anyone traveling with a passport issued from another country. The ESTA must be contacted in advance to make an application. Customs Form 6059B, on the other hand, is typically completed during a flight to the US or at the border before entering the immigration zone.
APPLY FOR ESTA

VIsa Waiver Countries

  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Republic of Korea
  • Latvia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Monaco

What is Visa Waiver Program (VWP), and how can I get an ESTA?

The VWP comprises countries that provide their citizens with machine-readable electronic passports. This allows them to travel to the US for 90 days without needing to apply for a tourist or business visa. Visa Waiver travelers presented their machine-readable passports at the border to gain entry to the US before January 2009. However, Visa Waiver travelers must pre-register and be approved by the ESTA to travel to America. An ESTA authorization is valid for two years.

Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows citizens of certain countries to travel to the United States for business or family visits for no more than 90 days. If certain conditions are met, this is possible. Whether the stay is in Canada, Mexico, or other adjacent countries, the VWP allows for a maximum of 90 days.

International visitors from Visa Waiver Program nations must have valid ESTA authorization to enter the United States. All travelers must apply online to obtain travel authorization (ESTA).

Who needs ESTA Visa Waiver?

Visas are required for all airline crew members and those on private, commercial, or maritime vessels. You must apply for nonimmigrant visas at least three months in advance if a Visa Waiver Program Partner has notified you that you are not eligible for travel to the United States. If you do not have imminent travel plans, you should pay the nonimmigrant visa application fee, fill out the DS-160 nonimmigrant visa application form at ceac.state.gov/genniv/, and schedule a visa appointment. If your travel plans are urgent, you can request an expedited appointment. Include the date and purpose of your trip in your request and a copy of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s notification about your ESTA status. More information about scheduling an emergency appointment can be found for nonimmigrant visas.
APPLY FOR ESTA

Is there a Passport requirement for the ESTA Visa Waiver Program

The VWP can issue only travel passports with certain security features. Visa Waiver Program requirements:
  • On the biographic page of your passport, a machine-readable area should be included.
  • A digital chip must be included in the passport that stores biometric information about the owner.
To access the VWP, all travelers must have an electronic passport (ePassport) as of April 1, 2016. An e-Passport, an electronic passport with an embedded electronic chip, is an enhanced secure passport. The appropriate passport issuing authority must issue E-Passports. They must meet international standards regarding the storage and security of information corresponding to the passport bearer.

Facts about the Visa Waiver Program

  • The VWP allows the traveler to stay in the US for up to 90 days. Extensions are not permitted.
  • All Visa Waiver travelers must have a machine-readable passport.
  • All Visa Waiver travelers who have traveled to the US by air, sea, or rail since January 12, 2009, must have an approved ESTA authorization.
  • The VWP was created in 1986 to encourage the US tourism industry. It has been very successful.

What is the difference between ESTA and Visa?

ESTA is not a visa. An approved ESTA does not require a permit. A key required by U.S. laws does not fulfill the legal and regulatory requirements. With a valid visa, a visa holder may still travel to the United States. Individuals with valid tickets cannot apply for ESTA.

What can ESTA do to reduce VWP Security risk?

DHS can use ESTA to determine whether an individual is eligible to travel to the United States to be a VWP passenger before they board a U.S.-bound airline. It can also help determine if such travel poses a security or law enforcement risk. ESTA is designed to mitigate the risks inherent in visa-free travel. This adds an extra layer of scrutiny to allow DHS personnel to focus more on potentially dangerous travelers.

Are my documents, data, and information protected with ESTA?

The ESTA website permits applicants to submit information. The same privacy restrictions and restrictions apply to these data as to similar traveler screening programs. Only professionals have access to the report. The website is managed by the U.S. government and protected with technology to prevent unauthorized access. The Federal Information Security Management Act, a U.S. law, protects and governs information.

Who is eligible to apply for ESTA under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP)?

You can participate in the Visa Waiver program if you:
  • Are entering the United States for business, transit, or tourism;
  • Will be staying in the United States for fewer than 90 days;
  • Are a national, citizen, or subject of a Visa Waiver Program country, as listed above;
  • Have a valid passport issued to you from that country;
  • Have travel plans whose final destination is not contiguous territory or an island adjacent to the United States unless you are resident in that area;
  • Have a return ticket or an onward ticket with an approved carrier for the Visa Waiver program;
  • Have acquired an approved authorization from ESTA;
  • Satisfy a United States Customs and Border Protection officer, upon disembarking in the United States, that you meet the requirements of the Visa Waiver program and do not qualify as inadmissible according to the Immigration and Nationality Act;
  • Officially cede any right to appeal, contest, or review the informed decision of the inspecting United States Customs and Border Protection officer, including any decision to remove you from the United States based on a Visa Waiver program application, unless you are making an application for asylum;
  • Reaffirm the ceding of those rights to review, appeal, or contest any removal action from the United States related to a Visa Waiver program application through the provision of required biometric information (photographs and fingerprints) upon disembarking in the United States;
  • Reaffirm that you do not pose a threat to the health, safety, security, or welfare of the United States;
  • Reaffirm that you do not pose a threat to the health, safety, security, or welfare of the United States;
Copyright © 2024. All Rights Reserved
Legal Disclaimer: This website is a private information website not affiliated with the United States Government
Search