Visa Waiver Program - ESTAForm.org

Visa Waiver Program

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The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) was created by the U.S. Congress in 1986. The goal of the program was to enable a greater number of short-therm tourist and business travelers as well as reduce the burden of local U.S. State department resources in processing tourist visa applications. Over the years, the program has evolved to include more member countries as well as include more travel restrictions. The page provides information on the VWP criteria for admitting new member nations, membership history, future membership outlook as well as provide an overview of the ESTA, the electronic travel authorization which allows VWP country's citizens to visit the U.S. without a visa.

What qualifies a potential country into joining the Visa Waiver Program

  • Countries that can be considered a sovereign state
  • Countries with a High Human Development Index (HDI)
  • Countries that share security data with the United States
  • Countries that are considered to have high-income
  • Countries with a low level of passport fraud and those that track lost or stolen passports
  • Countries with strict passport security requirements by using biometric electronic passports
  • Countries with a low number of citzens over-staying their visas and low number of immigration law violators
  • Countries with low non-immigrant visa refusal rate, specifically under 3% as specified in Section 217 (c)(2)(A)
  • Countries that have established credible counterterrorism, law enforcment, border control, and other security-focused organizations that seek to limit domestic crime and terrorism

Countries curently on the Visa Waiver Program

UK
United Kingdom
Since 1988
Australia
Australia
Since 1996
ireland
Ireland
Since 1995
Singapore
Singapore
Since 1999
Netherlands
Netherlands
Since 1989
NewZealand
New Zealand
Since 1991
Japan
Japan
Since 1988
Sweden
Sweden
Since 1989
Norway
Norway
Since 1991
Denmark
Denmark
Since 1991
Germany
Germany
Since 1990
France
France
Since 1989

Countries removed and/or being vetted to join the Visa Waiver Program

Argentina
Argentina
Romania
Romania
Cyprus
Cyprus
Turkey
Turkey
Israel
Israel
Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Uruguay
Uruguay
Brazil
Brazil

What do citizens of VWP countries need to do when visiting the U.S.?

Citizens of VWP countries will need an approved ESTA, or Electronic System for Travel Authorization to visit the United States for short term tourism, business, transit, or medical purposes. ESTA was created in 2008 and its purpose was to electronically process travel authorization applications online for citizens of VWP countries.
By submitting an online application, The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) can pre-screen travelers against terrorist and no-fly lists whilst an application is still active in the system. Travelers will need to meet all the necesarry ESTA requirements in order to ensure their application will be approved.

Important information about ESTA

  • An ESTA is not a visa, it is a visa waiver
  • The ESTA is required if arriving by air or cruise ship
  • An approved ESTA does not guarantee admission as there are continuous checks on applicant's admissability after the ESTA is granted.
  • The ESTA can be used for tourism, bussiness, transit, medical and other purposes for a period of 90 days. The ESTA alloes travelers to carry out bussiness and tourism without applying for a visa. The ESTA is valid for admission in all 50 U.S. states as well as the U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in the Carribean.
  • Travelers wishing to apply for an ESTA should aim to submit their applications online 72 hours before their departure to the U.S. A traveler must have his / her ESTA before embarking on the air or sea vessel to the United States.
  • Upon approval, an ESTA is valid for two-years or the date of passport expiry, whichever date is sooner.
  • Denied ESTA applicants may be still eligible to apply for a B2 Tourist Visa or B1 Bussiness Visa to visit the United States.
  • Children and infants must each apply for an ESTA and must have their ESTA applications approved to travel to the United States.
  • Individuals who have traveled to Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen on or after 1 March 2011 or those who are current or previous dual citizens of Iran, iraq, North Korea, Sudan or Syria may no longer be eligible for ESTA and should consider applying for a visa to visit the U.S. if their ESTA is denied.