Overview
Travelers seeking to enter the United States for business or tourism (B-1/B-2 visa), or in transit (C-1) for less than 90 days may be eligible to travel to the United States visa free under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) if they meet specific requirements.
The VWP cannot be used if your purpose of travel is to study for credit, employment, to perform as a professional artist or entertainer, work as foreign press, radio, film, journalists, or other information media, or take up permanent residence.
Who is Eligible?
Citizens of Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium Brunei, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.
Travelers in the following categories are no longer eligible to travel or be admitted to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP):
Nationals of VWP countries who have traveled to or been present in Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen on or after March 1, 2011 (with limited exceptions for travel for diplomatic or military purposes in the service of a VWP country).
Nationals of VWP countries who have traveled to or been present in Cuba on or after January 12, 2021 (with limited exceptions for travel for diplomatic or military purposes in the service of a VWP country).
Nationals of VWP countries who are also nationals of Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria.
For details, please see “Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015″ on the U.S. Department of State website
Holding valid, full validity e-passports with an electronic chip who
- are traveling for business, pleasure or transit for less than 90 days. Visa-free travel does not include those who plan to study, work, or remain in the United States for more than 90 days;
- are not ineligible to receive a visa under U.S. visa law. Travelers who have been arrested, even if the arrest did not result in a criminal conviction, those with criminal records, have certain serious communicable illnesses, those who have been refused admission into, or have been deported from, the United States, or have previously overstayed on the VWP are not eligible to travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program;
Plus, if entering the United States by air or sea are:
- holding a return or onward ticket. If traveling on an electronic ticket, a copy of the itinerary must be carried for presentation to U.S. immigration at the port of entry. Note: Travelers with onward tickets terminating in Mexico, Canada, Bermuda or the Caribbean Islands must be legal permanent 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. Note: Other private or official aircraft or vessels do not meet this requirement; and
- have received travel authorization under ESTA;
Or, if entering the United States by land,
- is in possession of a completed form I-94W, issued by the immigration authorities at the port of entry, and having paid a $6.00 fee, payable only in U.S. dollars.
- have received travel authorization under ESTA
Passports
If you are traveling to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program you require an electronic passport. Machine-readable passports are no longer accepted for travel. Read more about electronic passports.
The failure to determine that your passport qualifies for the VWP may result in the airline denying your boarding the airplane. The original validity for the Israeli electronic passport must be ten (10) years for adults and five (5) years for those under the age of 18.
Transit under the Visa Waiver Program
Travelers who qualify for visa free travel under the Visa Waiver Program may transit the United States. Prior to boarding the air or sea carrier you are required to obtain travel authorization under ESTA.
If transiting the United States to a destination in Canada, Mexico or the adjacent islands, you may re-enter the United States on the return journey using any mode of transport, as long as the total visit, including both periods of time spent in transit and in Canada, Mexico or the adjacent islands, does not exceed 90 days.
If transiting to a destination outside of Canada, Mexico or the adjacent islands, the return journey must be on a participating carrier, but need not be within 90 days, as you will be required to make a new application for admission.
If you are transiting the United States to take up residence in Mexico, Canada, Bermuda or the Caribbean Islands you must be a lawful permanent resident of these areas.