NON-IMMIGRANT VISAS

Visa Waiver Program

Citizens of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries are permitted to enter the United States for general business or tourist purposes for a maximum of 90 days without a visa. The 27 countries currently in the VWP are: 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.

Starting October 26, 2004, citizens of all Visa Waiver Program countries seeking to enter the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) must present a machine-readable passport (MRP) in order to be admitted. Any VWP traveler without an MRP must obtain a nonimmigrant visa prior to travel. The new requirement affects only passport holders of VWP countries. It applies to both adults and children, including infants, as well as to all categories of passport: regular, official and diplomatic. On and after October 26, 2004, U.S. immigration inspectors may deny entry to any traveler attempting to enter through the VWP who does not possess an MRP. The new requirement is mandated by the U.S.A. Patriot Act of 2001.

Important note: As of October 1, 2003, citizens of the VWP countries of Andorra, Brunei, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and Slovenia are required to have either MRPs or nonimmigrant visas. Citizens of Belgium have been required to present an MRP for visa-free entry since May 15, 2003.

For more information, please go to: http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html