The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows foreign nationals from certain countries to be admitted to the U.S. under limited conditions and for a limited time without obtaining a visa. Visitors to Canada who wish to travel on to the United States, and who are citizens of countries included in the program, have only to present their passports at any U.S. port of entry.

The advantage of entering the U.S. under the VWP is that tourists and people wishing to conduct business in America can travel to the U.S. spontaneously without obtaining visas, unless they are otherwise inadmissible.

Citizens of VWP countries may still be refused entry to the U.S. under a variety of circumstances. This page presents information that will be sufficient for most travelers. If your circumstances are unusual, it is strongly recommended that you follow the links provided for more detailed information.

Below is the list of countries currently in the VWP. Please note that the U.S. Attorney General, in consultation with the U.S. Secretary of State, may add countries to the program or remove them from the program at any time.

Note: Please read beyond the list of qualifying countries as there are specific passport requirements and other eligibility requirements which will require some citizens of VWP countries to apply for a U.S. visa.

Most notably: Visitors to the U.S. are required to present a Machine Readable Passport in order to utilize the Visa Waiver program.

Citizens or nationals of the following countries are currently eligible to travel to the United States under the VWP:

* United Kingdom: For citizens with the unrestricted right of permanent abode in the U.K. only. A passport which states that the holder has "Right of Abode" in the U.K. does not qualify for visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Program.

To qualify for the Visa Waiver Program, you must:

• Intend to enter the U.S. for 90 days or less for business or pleasure.
• ALL VWP travelers must carry passports that are machine-readable and valid for six months beyond the intended visit unless the applicant's country is part of the "six month club". See here for details
• Passports issued between October 26, 2005 and October 26, 2006 must contain a digitized photograph of the bearer to be eligible for entry under the VWP.
• Passports issued after October 26, 2006 must be e-passports - that is, include an integrated computer chip in order to be eligible for entry under the VWP.
• Be a national of the VWP country that issued your passport.
• Be cleared by the ESTA system. (see below)
• Have a return trip ticket.
  • This requirement is waived in the case of travelers arriving at a land border.
• Not pose a safety threat to the United States.
• Not have failed to comply with the conditions of any previous admission under the visa waiver program.
• Convince the examining immigration officer that you are clearly and beyond a doubt entitled to be admitted and that you are not inadmissible under section 212 of the Act, and
• Waive any right to challenge an immigration officer's decision as to your admissibility, other than on the basis of an application for asylum.

Visa Waiver Program (VWP) travelers are required to obtain a travel authorization via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to boarding a carrier to travel by air or sea to the U.S. under the VWP. (Canadian citizens are exempt from this requirement.) ESTA is now accessible online for citizens and eligible nationals of VWP countries. This modern system enhances the security of the VWP and will allow the U.S. government to continue and expand the VWP, which allows visitors from participating countries to travel to the U.S. for business or pleasure for 90 days or less without first obtaining a visa.

Beginning September 8, 2010, the Department of Homeland Security will require travelers from the Visa Waiver Program countries to pay operational and travel promotion fees when applying for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). The new fee will be $14.00 USD and may be paid through the following credit cards: MasterCard, Visa, American Express, and Discover. Payments may also be made with a debit card that holds the Visa or MasterCard symbol. You are not required to re-register when the new fees go into effect if you already have a valid ESTA.

For additional information please consult the following:

• Visa Waiver Program Countries
• The Electronic System for Travel Authorization Web Site

Citizen of VWP countries who intend to visit the United States for more than 90 days must obtain a non-immigrant visa before arriving at the U.S. port of entry.

The Immigration and Nationality Act provides that the U.S. Immigration officer may refuse entry to a citizen of a VWP country under certain circumstances. The link below provides detailed information about the general classes of persons who may be found ineligible for admission to the United States.

If you believe that any grounds of inadmissibility may apply to you, you should apply for a non-immigrant visa.

A form I-94 (Arrival-Departure Record) shows the date you arrived in the United States and the "Admitted Until" date, the date when your authorized period of stay expires. You will receive a Form I-94 from a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services inspector when arriving in the United States at a port of entry. The form must be completed and presented to a USCIS inspector who may ask you questions about the purpose of your trip, how long you will be in the United States, and your residence abroad.

When you leave the country, you should give the Form I-94 to your airline; if leaving by land or sea please see the link below.

Generally, VWP applicants admitted under the VWP may be readmitted to the U.S. after a departure to Canada or Mexico or adjacent islands for the balance of their original admission period; provided they are otherwise admissible and meet all the conditions of the VWP.

• Travel Without a Visa - U.S. State Dept.
• Visa Waiver Program - U.S. Customs and Border Protection