VISA WAIVER PROGRAM

Travel without a Visa : Visa Waiver Program (VWP)

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.

Citizens of the following countries must carry a machine readable passport to participate in 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.

The requirements to travel under the VWP are that the individual 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 (with exception);
• Traveling for business, pleasure or transit only
• staying in the U.S. for 90 days or less.

Plus, if entering the U.S. by air or sea :

• holding a return or onward ticket: travelers with onward tickets terminating in Mexico, Canada, Bermuda or the Caribbean Islands must be legal permanent residents of these areas;
• entering the U.S. aboard an air or sea carrier that has agreed to participate in the program; and in possession of a completed form I-94W, obtainable from airline and shipping companies;

or, if entering the U.S. by land from Canada or Mexico

• In possession of a completed form I-94W, issued by the immigration authorities at the port of entry, and a USD$6.00 fee, payable only in U.S. dollars.

By law, some travelers are not eligible to enter the U.S.. These include people with criminal records, certain serious communicable illnesses, previous deportations from the U.S., previous overstays on the visa waiver program and certain other problems. Such travelers may not travel under the VWP and must apply for special restricted visas. If they attempt to travel without a visa, they will be refused entry into the U.S.

Travelers who plan to study, work or remain more than 90 days cannot travel under the VWP and must apply for a visa. If a U.S. immigration officer believes that a traveler without visa is going to study, work or stay more than 90 days, the officer will refuse to admit the traveler.