visa waiver program - Visa USA Expert

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) lets nationals of certain countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business (visitor visa purposes) for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa.Not all countries participate in the VWP, and not all travelers from VWP countries are eligible to use the program.VWP travelers are required to apply for authorization though the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), are screened at their port of entry into the United States, and are enrolled in the Department of Homeland Security’s US-VISIT program.Visa Waiver Program Member CountriesAndorraAustraliaAustriaBelgiumBruneiCzech RepublicDenmarkEstoniaFinlandFranceGermanyGreeceHungaryIcelandIrelandItalyJapanLatviaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMaltaMonacoNetherlandsNew ZealandNorwayPortugalRepublic of KoreaSan MarinoSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSpainSwedenSwitzerlandTaiwanUnited KingdomNationals of member countries can travel without a visa for tourist and business travel of 90 days or less provided they meet the following requirements:Possess a passport with an integrated chip (e-passport).Register on-line through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).Meet the standard VWP conditions mentioned below.Review the Visa Waiver Program quick reference handout to learn more about VWP travel. For citizens of Canada, Mexico, and British Overseas Territories of Bermuda, please visit the State Department’s Travel website.QualificationsTo enter the U.S. on the Visa Waiver Program, travelers must:Be a citizen of one of the countries listed above, and in possession of a VWP-compliant passport.Possess the ESTA authorization.Plan to travel for business, pleasure, or transit.Stay in the U.S. for 90 days or less.AND if entering the U.S. by air or sea must be:Holding a return or onward ticket. If travelling on an electronic ticket, a copy of the itinerary must be carried for presentation to the immigration inspector. Travelers with onward tickets terminating in Mexico, Canada, Bermuda or the Caribbean Islands must be legal residents of these areas.Entering the United States aboard an air or sea carrier that has agreed to participate in the program. This includes aircraft of a U.S. corporation that has entered into an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security to carry passengers under the Visa Waiver Program.If entering the U.S. by land from Canada or Mexico, the documentary requirements are the same, except there is no requirement for round-trip tickets and signatory carriers. You must satisfy the inspecting officer that you have funds to support yourself during your stay and to depart the U.S.Go USA!– MikeAll information presented here is from my personal research and my attempts to save you time and money when pursuing your dream of coming to the USA to study. Do not take any of this information as LEGAL advice – I am not an attorney, nor do I play one on TV. This information is gathered from a variety of sources including many U.S. Government websites and I urge you to validate this information as much as possible, just as I do when posting on this blog.