Visa Waiver Program Requirements
Bahamian citizens do not require a visa to enter the United States when applying to enter one of the preclearance facilities at Nassau or Freeport International Airports. Bahamaic citizens must not have been criminally convicted or have the right to violate U.S. immigration laws in the past, and must be in possession of a valid, unexpired passport or Bahamian travel document stating that they have Bahamian citizenship. In addition to a passport, all applicants 14 years of age or older must present a police certificate issued by the Royal Bahamas Police within the last six months. All Bahamas applying for admission to a port of entry other than the preclearance facilities at Nassau or Freeport International Airports must be in possession of a valid visa to enter the United States. [103] Argentina was added to the program on July 8, 1996 and removed from the list on February 21, 2002. [5] Uruguay was added to the program on August 9, 1999 and removed from the list on April 15, 2003. [6] Citizens of the British Overseas Territories can enter the United States without a visa due to their connection to Bermuda, as long as they are bona fide visitors – no I-94 is required. [111] To be eligible, they must not have been criminally convicted or inadmissible, have violated U.S. immigration laws in the past, and must not have entered the United States from outside the Western Hemisphere.
You can also enter visa-free to study in the United States. [112] In addition, they must present a Bermudic passport that meets the following criteria: Entry into the United States through the VWP does not entitle you to study or work if you choose to stay long-term. Learn more about the visa you need for these activities. Those who do not meet the requirements of the Visa Waiver Program must obtain a U.S. visitor visa from a U.S. embassy or consulate. [87] DHS has carefully developed the ESTA program to ensure that only individuals who are not authorized to travel to the United States under the VWP, or those whose travel would pose a law enforcement or security risk, are denied an ESTA. Although the ESTA website contains a link to the DHS Travel Redress Inquiry Program (TRIP) website, there is no guarantee that a DHS TRIP repair claim will resolve the VWP eligibility that led to the rejection of an applicant`s ESTA application. The traveler must provide biographical information such as name, date of birth and passport information in English. The traveler must also answer VWP eligibility questions about communicable diseases, arrests and convictions for certain crimes, history of visa revocation or deportation, and other issues. The traveler will also need their credit card information to pay the associated fees in order to complete the ESTA application. In January 2009, the First Assistant Secretary (who served as equivalent UnderSecretary) for Policy at the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security, Stewart Baker, announced that Croatia would be expected to participate in the Visa Waiver Program by 2011. [45] All countries selected by the U.S. government for the program are high-income economies with a very high human development index, generally considered developed countries. Your ESTA may be rejected for a number of reasons. For example, even if you are eligible, if you traveled to North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Libya or Somalia after 2011, your ESTA may not be approved. In this case, you can apply for a visa to travel to the United States. The Secretary of Homeland Security may waive this vwP restriction if it determines that such a waiver is in the interest of law enforcement or U.S. national security. These derogations will only be granted on a case-by-case basis.
In general, the categories of travelers eligible for an exemption include: If a person who is exempt from the law due to their diplomatic or military presence in one of the seven countries is denied their ESTA, they can visit the CBP website or contact the CBP Information Center. The traveler can also apply for a nonimmigrant visa from a U.S. embassy or consulate. The Australian government has a similar program to the ESTA, called the Electronic Travel Authority, where travelers who wish to visit Australia can apply electronically through the Electronic Travel Authority`s website. In the past, the government of the Northern Mariana Islands had issued entry permits to visitors instead of visas. citizens or (2) an asylum application. [96] U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers decide on the traveller`s admissibility for arrival. If someone attempts to enter the United States under the VWP and a CBP officer is denied entry at a port of entry, no means of appeal or verification of the refusal of entry is allowed.
[97] VWP, including ESTA, does not guarantee entry into the United States. CBP officials make the final decision to enter the United States. Yes. The Site is operated by the United States Government and uses technology to prevent unauthorized access to information entered and displayed. Information submitted by applicants through the ESTA website is subject to the same strict controls established for similar travel control programs as governed by U.S. laws and regulations, including but not limited to the Federal Information Security Management Act. While all participating countries must grant reciprocal visa-free travel to US citizens (usually ninety days for tourism or business purposes), Australia is the only country that requires US citizens[67] to apply for an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA), which is actually a visa stored electronically in a computer system operated by the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC). ETA has replaced visa-free travel in Australia, and the only country that grants visa-free travel rights to Australia is New Zealand under the auspices of the Trans-Tasmanian Travel Arrangement (rather than not requiring a visa, New Zealand citizens automatically receive one upon arrival). A passport holder must apply for and purchase an eTA through a licensed travel agent, airline or the official DIAC website[68] before leaving for Australia.
However, since the ETA process is relatively free of formalities, the United States recognizes it as the equivalent of visa-free travel. Citizens of the European Union and other European countries must apply for an eVisitor Electronic Travel Authorization to travel to Australia, which is similar to the ETA program but free. [69] The Australian government`s policy in this regard is similar to the U.S. policy, which also requires participants in the Visa Waiver Program to apply for an ESTA. [Citation needed] If you received a passport on or after October 26, 2005 and it does not meet the above requirements, you will need a visa. If you meet all the requirements of the Visa Waiver Program, you do NOT need to apply for a visa. Information submitted by applicants through the ESTA website is subject to the same strict privacy regulations and controls established for similar travel control programs. Access to this information is limited to those who need to know professionally. The Website is operated by the United States.
Government and uses technology to prevent unauthorized access to information entered and displayed. The information is protected and regulated by U.S. laws and regulations, including but not limited to the Federal Information Security Management Act. .