NON-IMMIGRANT VISAS

Visa Waiver Program (VWP)

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables citizens of the certain countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for 90 days or less without obtaining a visa.  Currently, 27 countries participate in the Visa Waiver Program.  These are Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.

Important Notice: All VWP travelers, regardless of age or type of passport used, must present individual Machine-Readable Passports (MRP) to enter the U.S. without a visa.

a) Passports issued before 10/26/05 – must be machine-readable.

b) MRP passports issued between 10/26/05 and 10/25/06 require a digital photograph integrated into the data page or integrated chip containing information from the data page.

c) MRP passports issued on or after 10/26/06 require an integrated chip with information from the data page (e-passport).

To enter the United States under the Visa Waiver Program, travelers from participating countries must:

•  Be a citizen of a Visa Waiver Program country;
  

• Have a valid passport issued by the participating country that is valid for six months beyond your intended visit; Have a machine-readable passport (MRP), a digitized photograph or integrated chip containing information from the data page, following the required due dates for MRP’s explained above;
  

• Be seeking entry for 90 days or less, as a temporary visitor for business or pleasure.  Extensions or change to another visa category are not permitted under the VWP.
  

• If entering by air or sea, have a round trip ticket issued on a carrier that has signed an agreement with the U.S. Government to participate in the waiver program and arrive in the United States abroad such a carrier.
  

• Have proof of financial solvency and 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 port-of -entry.
  

• You must have no visa ineligibilities.  This means if you have been refused a visa before, a criminal record or are ineligible for a visa you cannot travel on the VWP without a visa.  You must apply for a visa to the U.S.
  

• Entry at a land border crossing points from Canada or Mexico is permitted under the VWP.
   

Travelers from VWP countries who plan to work or study in the United States, stay more than 90 days, have been previously denied visas, have a criminal record, or who believe they may be ineligible for a visa should contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate before attempting to travel on the VWP.