Visa Waivers
Entering the U.S. without a visa - legally
What is a visa waiver?
Through the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), citizens of some countries may travel to the U.S. without a visa, providing they are staying less than 90 days and are visiting as tourists or for business. You will still need a valid passport and cannot work for a U.S. company during your stay. Note: Members of the media on assignment cannot enter on this visa.
Who is eligible?
Currently, 27 countries are eligible under the VWP: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
To enter the U.S. under the VWP, you must:
- Be a citizen of a Visa Waiver Program country
- Have a passport issued by a VWP country that is valid for six months beyond your intended visit
- Stay for 90 days or less
- Visit for business or pleasure
Note : You cannot enter the U.S. under the VWP and must apply for the appropriate visa if:
- You have ever been refused a visa in the past
- Have a criminal record
- Are ineligible for a visa
What about Canada ?
Canada is not part of the VWP, but because of the special relationship between Canada and the U.S. , Canadians may visit the U.S. without a visa.
What's a border-crossing card?
Border-crossing cards allow Canadians and Mexicans to enter the U.S. for work. For eligible Canadians, these cards do not expire. For Mexicans, these cards are valid for 10 years. However, border-crossing cards have special restrictions. Stays must be limited to:
- 72 hours
- Within 25 miles of the U.S. border
Can I extend my stay?
If you enter the U.S. under a visa waiver, you cannot extend your visit or change to another visa category.
How do I enter under a waiver (the VWP)?
If you plan on entering under the VWP, you need a machine-readable passport. Since these are new to some countries, be sure to check that yours is machine-readable. If you arrive from a country in the VWP program, you'll also need to present:
- A round-trip ticket issued by a carrier from a country in the VWP program
- A completed and signed Non-Immigrant Visa Waiver Arrival-Departure Record, Form I-94W. These are available from participating carriers, travel agents, and at land-border ports-of-entry.
