To go to the United States if you don’t possess a visa is possible as there is a method at which you can get to the United States for just a short period of time and that program is called the Visa waiver program.
This program is open to all Visa waiver countries who are in line with the United States this article tends to give you a good and proper understanding of the Visa waiver program and its procedures.
What is the Visa Waiver Program
Visa waiver program Grant citizens of 39 countries to enter the United States without a visa and Steve for 90 days.
Travelers can apply for a travel authorisation and apply in the electronic system for travel authorisation before they can enter the United States. this permits them to stay for just 90 days or less without having a visa.
If you are planning a vacation or a business trip and you are not a US citizen or a permanent residence it is expected of you to apply for a visa to enter the United States for you to legally stay.
But if you are hoping to see just a few sights with some friends or go on a business conference that can be possible only if you enter through the visa waiver program.
The Visa waiver program can be helpful the travellers who wish to stay in the United States for a short period of time. if you feel like exploring your options for staying in the US on a on a long-term basis the next time you come then you can use the Visa waiver program for sightseeing.
Visa Waiver Program: Reasons for Travel
You can apply for a Visa waiver program if you’re planning to Transit through the United States to another country although there are other activities you can do through the visa waiver program some of these activities are as follows:
Tourism Activities
- A vacation
- Visiting friends or relatives
- Medical treatment
- Social events
- Participation in musical or sports events, if you’re not being paid to participate
- Enrolling in a short recreational course, for example, a cooking class
Business Activities
- Consulting with business associates
- Attending a scientific, educational, or professional conference
- Short-term training where you are not paid by a U.S.-based source. Expenses generally do not count as income.
Negotiating a contract
The Visa Waiver Program has the same purposes for travel as the B-1/B-2 visa.
Going to the United States through the VWP doesn’t give you permission to work or study if you decide to stay on a long time it is important to know about the activities you can get from any visa.
Visa Waiver Program Eligibility
If you wish to enter the United States to the Visa waiver program there are some criteria to fulfill in order for you to be eligible and some of the materials are as follows:
- You are a citizen of a Visa Waiver Program country
- You don’t have a Visitor Visa
- You plann to stay in the United States for 90 days or less
- You are traveling to the United States for business or tourism purposes
- You may need an e-passport in order for you to participate in the VWP. an e-passports has an electric chip embedded inside that ensures your documents the extra security it needs.
The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) program
Before you travel to the United States you are to enroll in the electronic system for travel authorisation program. and you can do this through an online secured website that is run by the department of homeland security and CBP.
In order for you to apply you will need to have some documents with, you some of these documents that you need are:
- A valid passport from a Visa Waiver Program country
- A valid email address
- Your home address and phone number
- The phone number and email of an emergency contact
You can pay for your ESTA online with your credit card or PayPal. the current fee is $14 which includes a $1 processing fee and a $10 authorisation fee. this important to know that if your ESTA is not approved you will only be charged for processing fee.
If you have a Global Entry ID number or a point of contact in the United States, you are to enter that information too.
Filling out the application takes nothing less than 30 minutes. You can apply for the ESTA when you have plans to come to the U.S..
How long is the ESTA valid for?
The ESTA is valid for two years, or until your passport expires, anyone that comes first. and it can use it for multiple trips.
What if my ESTA is denied?
Your ESTA can be tonight for a good number of reasons.For example, even if you are eligible, if you have traveled to North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Libya or Somalia after 2011, your ESTA can still not be approved. You will still need apply for a visa to travel to the United States.
When should I apply for a new ESTA?
You want to apply for a new ESTA if you get a new passport or you change your name or your gender or your country of citizenship changes or if your answers change to any question on the ESTA application.
Can I extend my stay?
You can’t extend your stay once entered United States on the vwp. you are permitted to leave and re-enter but then you need to prove that you are not trying to stay permanently in the United States.
Transit under the Visa Waiver Program
Travelers who qualify for the visa can travel freely under the Visa waiver program and may Transit into the United States. before boarding an air or sea carrier you are expected to get the travel authorization under ESTA.
If moving from the United States tour destination in Canada, Mexico or the Caribean Islands you are required to enter the United States on the return of the journey using any means of transportation.
So long as the total visits which include both time spent in transit and in Canada, Mexico or the Caribean Island does not exceed 90 days. If moving to a destination outside Canada, Mexico or the Caribean Island the returning journey must be on a particular carrier but not within 90 days as you are expected to make a new application for admission.
If you are moving to the United States to take complex residents in Mexico, Canada or the Caribbean island you should be legally permitted to reside in this area.
Conclusion
Getting a Visa waiver program is beneficiary to those who wish to have a taste of the United States and its beauty for just a short period of time either for it weather for tourism or for business reasons.
Therefore it is important to know that getting the required document and being eligible for the visa waiver program is important.
