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:
Have a
valid machine-readable passport by the date required for your home
country (see below for details).
Propose to enter the U.S. for 90 days or less as a temporary
visitor.
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.
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.
