How To Apply For The Visa Waiver Program

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows citizens of 38 countries to travel to the U.S. for business or tourism without a visa. It’s a great way to visit your friends and family in the U.S., but it can also be challenging to qualify for and get approved for this program. To make things easier, the U.S. Department of State has created a checklist of requirements that every applicant must meet to be eligible for admission under the VWP. If you fall within one of the categories listed below, then you might be able to apply for immigration through the VWP. But even if you’re not sure if you fit into one of these categories, it may help to read through this article anyway so that you know what steps you need to take to apply.

USA Immigration Feb 17, 2023 0 1402 Add to Reading List

How To Apply For The Visa Waiver Program

If you are a citizen of an eligible country, such as the United States, Canada, or Mexico, and you are under the age of 31, you do not need a job offer to apply for the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The VWP allows citizens of certain countries to work in the U.S. for three months without first getting a visa. This program is known as the Visa Waiver Program because it allows people from certain countries that have signed visa waiver agreements with the U.S. to come to the government for business or tourism purposes without obtaining a visa. If you are interested in applying for this program, your best bet is to contact your local authorities and request that they list all nations that agree to participate. Once you’ve done that, you can go through the application process outlined below and expect your application to be processed and your approval rate to be high!

The Visa Waiver Program allows citizens of 40 countries to travel to the United States for business or tourism for up to 90 days without a visa. These purposes must be the same as those for the B1 or B2 visas.

The program is administered by the Department of Homeland Security and was created to improve security for the people who visit the United States and also so that US citizens can travel to the other 40 countries freely. It brings mutual benefits and, most importantly, makes traveling safer.

If you fulfill the necessary criteria and you are from countries with which the US has good relationships, you will not need to apply for a visa. The only document you will need to enter the US is the stamp on your passport which states that you are part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

How To Apply For The Visa Waiver Program

The Visa Waiver Program is a three-part process that allows you to apply for the program and get approved: Apply for the Visa Waiver Program with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your home country. Could you provide the following: Travel plans: What travel dates are available, estimated travel duration, and mode of transportation? Proof of income: What sources of income will you use to cover your travel and living expenses? Health insurance: What form of health insurance will cover you while you’re in the U.S., and what coverage do you need?

What Is The Visa Waiver Program?

How To Apply For The U.S. Visa Waiver Program

If you are a citizen of an eligible country, such as the United States, Canada, or Mexico, and you are under 31, you do not need a job offer to apply for the U.S. Visa Waiver Program. The U.S. Visa Waiver Program allows people from certain countries to work in the United States for three months without first getting a visa. This program is known as the U.S. Visa Waiver Program because it allows people from certain countries that have signed visa waiver agreements with the United States to come to the government for business or tourism purposes without obtaining a visa.

What Are the 40 Visa Waiver Countries?

The 40 Visa Waiver Countries are the following:

Andorra(1991)
Australia(1996)
Austria(1991)
Belgium(1991)
Brunei(1993)
Chile(2014)
Czechia(2008)
Denmark(1991)
Estonia(2008)
Finland(1991)
France(1989)
Germany(1989)
Greece(2010)
Hungary(2008)
Iceland(1991)
Ireland(1995)
Italy(1989)
Japan(1988)
South Korea(2008)
Latvia(2008)
Liechtenstein(1991)
Lithuania(2008)
Luxembourg(1991)
Malta(2008)
Monaco(1991)
Netherlands(1989)
New Zealand(1991)
Norway(1991)
Poland(2019)
Portugal(1999)
San Marino(1991)
Singapore(1999)
Slovakia(2008)
Slovenia(1997)
Spain(1991)
Sweden(1989)
Switzerland(1989)
Taiwan(2012)
United Kingdom(1988)
Croatia(2021)

Do I Qualify to Travel to the United States Under the Visa Waiver Program?

To qualify for the US Visa Waiver Program, you must fulfill the following criteria:

Be a citizen of the 40 allowed countries.
Have a visa waiver ESTA approval.
Have an e-passport.
Prove that you will return to your home country after your VWP stamp expires.

The US has created the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), a computer software, to speed up the application process for Visa Waiver. You may find out if you are eligible for the Visa Waiver by visiting the organization's website and providing your personal information.

You require the e-passport to apply for the VWP's Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). There are two ways that the e-passport differs from conventional passports:

It is Machine Readable, which means that on the page with your personal information, there are also various numbers at the bottom (See Picture 1 below)
It has a chip and a symbol on the front cover distinguishes it (See Picture 2 below)

How To Apply For The Mexican Visa Waiver Program

Suppose you are a citizen of an eligible country, such as the United States, Canada, or Mexico, and you are under 31. You do not need a job offer to apply for the Mexican Visa Waiver Program. The Mexican Visa Waiver Program allows people from certain countries to work in Mexico for three months without first getting a visa. This program is known as the Mexican Visa Waiver Program because it allows people from certain countries that have signed visa waiver agreements with Mexico to work in the country without a visa.

What Paperwork Is Required for Visa-Free Travel in the USA?

The ESTA clearance and the e-Passport are the only documents required to receive the Visa Waiver stamp in your passport. At least six months must pass after your anticipated departure date from the US for your e-Passport to be valid.

You can begin planning your trip to the US after you receive clearance from the Electronic System for Travel Authorization.

Advantages and Drawbacks of Traveling on the VWP

The benefits of the Visa Waiver Program are many. You will not be required to apply for a visa, which takes time, effort, and a lot of documents. With minimal effort on a computer, you can get approved for the VWP and be on your way to making your travel arrangements for the US. You will also avoid the long processing times, so if you are traveling for business and need to be in the US as soon as possible, you can do so with the VWP.

For as long as your VWP is valid, you are also permitted to go to Canada, Mexico, and other adjacent islands if you enter the United States with one. So, you won't have any issues if you rejoin the country while the VWP is still in effect. Other visas do not let you do this.

Things you are allowed to do with the Visa Waiver Program

With the VWP, you are allowed to go into the US for these activities only:

Negotiate contracts
Consult with business associates in the United States
Settle estates
Attend conferences, educational, professional, or business events
Have a vacation in the US
Tour various cities in the US
Visit friends or family
Participate in social events hosted by various organizations
Visit the country for medical treatments
Participate in events or contests related to music or sports for which you will not receive payment
Enroll in short study courses for which you will not receive credit (ex., cooking classes)

Things you are not allowed to do with a Visa Waiver Program

However, you are not allowed to travel with these activities in mind:

Become a full or part-time student
Perform and get paid for it
Work in press or journalism
Engage in any form of employment
Enter as a crewmember of an aircraft or ship
Seek permanent residence in the United States

What if I need help to obtain a Visa Waiver?

You have one additional choice if for whatever reason, you are not qualified for a visa waiver or if your application for an ESTA has been rejected. A standard US visa, such as the B1/B2 visa, may be requested. If you are also refused a visa, you must reevaluate your qualifications to see if you are still eligible for a visa to the US. Applying for a B1 or B2 visa can save you much more time.

If you are flying on a private aircraft or an air carrier that is not VWP-approved, you will also be unable to get a visa waiver.

Can I bring my dependents with a USA Visa Waiver?

Each Visa Waiver is individual and does not apply to a group. So if you and your families, such as your spouse and children, want to travel to the United States together, you must each be eligible for the Visa Waiver and get one for each member.

Even toddlers must fulfill the criteria for the Visa Waiver and must have a valid passport to be able to get the Visa Waiver. Therefore, you cannot bring your dependents to the United States with only one Visa Waiver but must get one for each individual.

How Does a Country Join the Visa Waiver Program?

To become part of the Visa Waiver Program, a country must meet these conditions:

Issue e-passports.
Have enhanced law enforcement and secure data sharing with the United States.
Report stolen and lost passports.
Have a less than 3% refusal rate of B visas.
Have good counterterrorism, border control, law enforcement, and other security standards.