Nonimmigrant Visas

Visa Waiver Program (VWP)

Passport holders for the following countries are eligible to use the Visa Waiver Program: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.

Who can use the Visa Waiver Program?

Citizens of designated countries, including British citizens with right-of-abode, may apply for entry to the United States without a visa for periods of less than 90 days for business or holiday travel with no possibility of an extension. Visitors may arrive at sea or air borders of the United States aboard a participating commercial carrier. Application forms are available at the port of entry or from a participating airline or cruise company. Visa-free entry by car or other carrier is also possible. Visitors who wish to use the Visa Waiver Program must have machine-readable passports.

Visa Waiver Program Passport Requirements

Visa waiver travelers from ALL 27 Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries must present either a valid machine-readable passport or a valid U.S. visa. VWP passports must adhere to the following requirements:

• If the machine-readable passport was issued or renewed/extended before October 26, 2005--no further requirements are in effect.

• If the machine-readable passport was issued or renewed/extended between October 26, 2005 and October 25, 2006--a digital photograph must be printed on the biographic data page of the passport OR the passport must have an integrated chip with information from the data page. If the passport has neither, the traveler is required to obtain a U.S. visa.

• If the machine-readable passport was issued or renewed/extended on or after October 26, 2006--the passport must include an integrated chip with information from the data page on the passport (e-passport).

• Temporary, emergency, official and diplomatic passports are exempted from biometric digital photo and chip requirements, but must be machine-readable. (As per the update above, German temporary or emergency passports holders must get a regular German passport for VWP travel, or apply for a visa.)

Electronic System of Travel Authorization (ESTA) Required in Visa Waiver Program (VWP)

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announces implementation of the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which will begin to accept voluntary ESTA applications starting on August 1, 2008. Enrollment in ESTA will be mandatory for all VWP participants effective January 12, 2009. If you have a visa to visit the USA, or a Canadian passport, this message does not apply to you. The ESTA applies only to Visa Waiver Program participants. For information about ESTA, click here. To view our Frequently Asked Questions, click here.

Conditions of the Visa Waiver Program

To use the program, visitors must waive all rights of review or appeal of decisions made by an immigration officer and all rights to contest action in deportation except for asylum. They are not eligible to study, work or change their visa status after they enter the United States. Applicants with certain visa ineligibilities, such as carriers of communicable diseases, narcotics addicts or traffickers, convicted criminals, or deportees from the United States, cannot apply for the Visa Waiver Program. Visitors who have previously been found ineligible for a U.S. visa are similarly ineligible for the program.

Requirements for Entry Into the United States

Visitors arriving by air or sea must have an onward ticket for travel on a participating airline or cruise ship. Nearly 300 commercial carriers currently participate in the program including all major Hong Kong carriers. Visitors arriving at land border ports-of-entry must demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to ensure they will not become a public charge and that have a home abroad to which they intend to return.

Visa Waiver Program Update--German Passport Holders

As of May 1, 2006 German temporary/emergency passports will no longer be valid for travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). German regular, official, and diplomatic passports remain valid for VWP travel, per current VWP passport requirements (see www.travel.state.gov for additional details on the need for machine-readable, biometrically enabled passports). Holders of German temporary or emergency passports that intend to travel to or through the United States must either obtain regular German passports for VWP travel or apply for U.S. visas to travel to the United States. Information on applying for U.S. visas is available at www.travel.state.gov and http://hongkong.usconsulate.gov/. Germany remains a designated country in the VWP, and its citizens with regular passports may continue to use the program for business and tourism travel to the United States. Regular full-validity German passports are unaffected by this decision.

To learn more, read What Do I Need to Know About the VWP and the Required Machine-Readable Passport?

Click here to go back to the application instructions.

 

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Last modified: August 14, 2008