Posted on December 04 2020
The Visa Waiver Program [VWP] of the US allows most nationals or citizens of certain countries to travel to the US for purposes of tourism or business for a stay of up to 90 days without the requirement of obtaining a visa for the same.
Countries eligible for the Visa Waiver Program
In order to be able to travel to the US through the VWP, the individual must be a national/citizen of any of the VWP designated countries.
The 39 VWP designated countries are –
Andorra | Australia | Austria | Belgium | Brunei | Chile | Czech Republic | Denmark |
France | Germany | Greece | Hungary | Iceland | Ireland | Italy | Japan |
Liechtenstein | Finland | Lithuania | Luxembourg | Malta | Monaco | Netherlands | New Zealand |
Poland | Portugal | San Marino | Singapore | Slovakia | Slovenia | South Korea | Spain |
Switzerland | Taiwan | UK | Estonia | Latvia | Norway | Sweden | - |
Croatia is expected to soon be joining the list of the VWP eligible countries. With Croatia joining the program, only 3 EU member states – Romania, Cyprus, and Bulgaria – will still remain excluded.
Travelers will also be required to have a valid Electronic System for Travel Authorization [ESTA] approval before travelling to the US on the VWP.
Those nationals or citizens of VWP countries that would instead prefer having a visa in their passport can apply for a US visitor visa.
Activities permitted while in the US on the VWP
All those activities are permitted while in the US on the VWP that the individual would have otherwise been able to do on a visitor [B] visa for the US.
Activities permitted | Activities not permitted | |
Business | Consulting with business associates | Study, for credit |
Attending a business convention or conference etc. | Employment | |
Attending short-term training [must not include payment by any US source, except for expenses] | Working in information media as foreign press, journalist etc. | |
Negotiating a contract | US permanent residence | |
Tourism | Tourism | |
Vacationing | ||
Visiting friends or relatives | ||
Medical treatment | ||
Participation in social events hosted by organizations etc. | ||
Participation by amateurs in events or contests [not being paid for taking part] | ||
Enrolment in short recreational course of study, not working towards a degree [such as attending a short class while on vacation] |
VWP travelers are also allowed to transit through the US while on their onward journey to other countries.
To be able to travel to the US without a visa on the VWP, an individual must fulfil all the requirements –
Travel purpose must be permitted on a US visitor [B] visa |
Must be a citizen/national of a VWP designated country |
Must have a Valid ESTA |
Have the correct type of passport
|
If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate to the USA, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company.
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