VISA WAIVER PROGRAM

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) offers an easy, effective method to travel to the U.S. for business or pleasure. The program enables citizens of participating countries to travel to the U.S. for pleasure or business for 90 days or less without officially obtaining a U.S. visa.  Although the Visa Waiver Program is available to business visitors (similar to the B-1 visa), it is important to note that this visa does not allow employment in the U.S.  Business visitors may attend meetings, conventions, conferences, or negotiations on behalf of a foreign employer, but may not perform productive work in the U.S.  Using the Visa Waiver Program to look for a job or attend job interviews is not allowed.  Please note that VWP stays cannot exceed 90 days, and persons traveling on VWP are not eligible to extend or change status within the U.S.

Steps

There are presently 27 participating countries in the VWP: Andorra, Austria, Australia, 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 the United Kingdom.

While most interested parties do not need to apply for a visa, certain exceptions do apply.

Some travelers still need to apply for a visa, including people who plan to work or study in the U.S., stay more than 90 days, or people who might otherwise be ineligible for a visa. Travelers who have previously been denied visas, who have criminal records or who may be ineligible to enter the U.S. on the VWP, should contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate before attempting to use the VWP to enter the U.S.

Documents

If you are entering the U.S. on the VWP, you must:

1. Have a valid machine-readable passport by the date required for your home country (see below for details).
2. Propose to enter the U.S. for 90 days or less as a temporary visitor.
3. If entering the U.S. by plane or ship, you must have a round-trip ticket issued on a carrier that has signed an agreement with the U.S. government to participate in the VWP. You must arrive in the U.S. on that carrier.
4. Have proof of financial capability and a signed visa waiver arrival/departure form (I-94W Form), on which you have waived the right to a hearing of exclusion or deportation.

Citizens of Andorra, Belgium, Brunei, Liechtenstein, and Slovenia are currently required to have a Machine-Readable Passport in order to use the Visa Waiver Program.  Citizens of all other VWP countries will be required to have a Machine-Readable Passport on and after October 26, 2004.

Land entry from Canada or Mexico is allowed under the VWP. You are not required to present round-trip transportation tickets or arrive at the border entry point aboard a carrier who has signed an agreement with the U.S. to participate in the VWP.