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Under
the Visa Waiver Pilot Program, or VWPP, The US government provides visa
waivers to citizens of certain countries for temporary travel to the U.S.
without a visa. Stays can only last 90 days with no extensions. Eligible
countries do not have a history of illegal immigration.
Note: Portugal and Singapore are now participanting
countries in the VWPP.
Disadvantages:
(1) Those arriving via the visa waiver program can't change to another non-immigrant status unless they leave the country and re-apply.
(2) Visa Waivers can't be extended like a tourist B visa unless there is a genuine emergency, in which case the visit can only be extended 30 days.
Tourist B visas offer more flexibility than a visa waiver.(3) Unlike certain classes of temporary visa holders, visa waiver holders applying for green cards must leave the country and apply at a U.S consulate abroad.
Eligible Visa Waiver Countries (updated May 2003): 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, United Kingdom
