Program visa waiver

An e-passport is an enhanced secure passport with an embedded electronic chip. The chip can be scanned to match the identity of the traveler to the passport. You can readily identify an e-passport, by a symbol on the cover. See the example below. More information about e-passports is available on the DHS website.

If you use an emergency or temporary passport to enter the United States on the VWP, the passport must be an e-passport. Yes, you may apply for a visitor B visa, if you prefer to do so or if you are not elegible for VWP travel. Additionally, you need to apply for a visa if you will be traveling on a private aircraft or other non-VWP approved air or sea carrier.

Review the approved carriers list. Also, if you intend to stay longer than 90 days, then you need to apply for a visa. A recent visa refusal for any reason could result in denial of ESTA authorization, additional review at the port of entry, or denial of admission to the United States.

If you are uncertain if you qualify for VWP travel, you may apply for a visa. If you are admitted to the United States under the VWP, you may take a short trip to Canada, Mexico, or a nearby island and generally be readmitted to the United States under the VWP for the remainder of the original 90 days granted upon your initial arrival in the United States. Therefore, the length of time of your total stay, including the short trip, must be 90 days or less.

See the CBP website. Learn more on the CBP website. Requirements include, but are not limited to:. If you enter the United States under the Visa Waiver Program, you are not permitted to extend your stay in the United States beyond the initial admission period.

You must depart the United States on or before the date on your admission stamp when you entered the United States. See Extend Your Stay on the U. Chinese citizens also do not need a visa if they complete Form I for temporary admission into the Northern Mariana Islands.

You are about to leave travel. Department of State. Links to external websites are provided as a convenience and should not be construed as an endorsement by the U. Department of State of the views or products contained therein. If you wish to remain on travel. Cancel GO. Systems Alert. Skip to main content. Gov Travel. Passports International Travel U. Stay Connected. Consular officers can also waive the interview process for people applying for any of the qualifying visas for the first time if they are citizens of nations on the US Visa Waiver list.

The DoS also announced those interview waivers will apply to certain students, professors, research scholars, short-term scholars or specialists applying for F1, M1 and J1 visas until December 31, However, those applicants who qualify for a waiver because they are citizens of a country on the US Visa Waiver program must have previously travelled to the US using an ESTA authorization to qualify.

Consular officers also have permission to waive in-person appointments for F, M and J visa applicants if they have previously been issued with any type of US visa. Given lengthy waiting times for an appointment at certain US consulates, this could be beneficial for thousands of applicants. While certain visa categories will have the option for consulates to waive in-person appointments, it remains the discretion of consular officers to actually waive visa interviews for applicants.

The DoS has therefore urged applicants to monitor the website of the consulate with whom they are making an application to check for any limitations on eligibility for an interview waiver. Applicants are also reminded that any application they make must be submitted from within their country of nationality or residence in order to be granted their visa. If an interview waiver is permitted, the applicant must submit their application package, along with their passport, as per the directions of the consulate website with whom they are applying.

We can help with a wide range of visa applications to your country of choice. Contact us for further details. You can also telephone In an effort to tackle visa processing delays and backlogs, the DoS has authorized US consular officers worldwide to waive the in-person interview requirement for several US visa categories.