General 

The Visa Waiver Program was created in 1986 to promote tourism and facilitate travel between the United States and its trading partner countries.  Under the Visa Waiver Program, citizens of certain countries are permitted entry into the U.S. without a visa.  Foreign nationals who are subject to the Visa Waiver Program may enter the United States without a visa as a tourist or to do business for no more than 90 days. 

Participating Countries 

Below is a table of the countries that are a part of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program.  Citizens from the nations listed in the following table may enter the U.S. without obtaining a visa for up to 90 days under certain circumstances:

Do note that citizens from Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda may enter the United States without a visa under certain circumstances as well, but under a different authority than that of the Visa Waiver Program. 

Requirements  

To enter the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program you must meet the following requirements: 

1. Member Country: You must be a citizen of a country participating in the Visa Waiver Program. 
2. ESTA:  You must have received authorization to travel under what is referred to as the Electronic System for Travel Authorization.
3. Passport:  You must have a machine readable-passport, and, depending on where your passport was issued, you may also be required to have a biometric passport with digitized photos or an e-passport.  Also, your passport must be valid for at least six months past your period of stay in the U.S. 
4. Duration: You must intend to stay in the United States for no longer than 90 days for tourism or business purposes (eg. B-1 or B-2 visa purposes). 
5. Approved Carrier:  If you are entering the U.S. by air or sea, you must travel with an approved carrier and have a return trip ticket proving that you will leave the U.S. upon the end of your stay.  
6. Temporary Intent:  You must be able to demonstrate that you intend to stay in the U.S. for no longer than 90 days 
7. Financial Self-Sufficiency:  You must be able to demonstrate that you can support yourself financially during the full duration of your stay in the U.S.

Ife S. Ashabo, B.A., J.D., F.L.C. 

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