Visa Waivers

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