If you are a citizen of a country which participates in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, you may be able to enter the U.S. for up to 90 days WITHOUT A VISA provided that you meet certain conditions.
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables nationals of certain countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. Not all countries participate in the VWP, and not all travelers from VWP countries are eligible to use the program.
VWP travelers are screened prior to admission into the United States, and they are enrolled in the Department of Homeland Security’s US-VISIT program.
27 countries participate in the Visa Waiver Program (as of August 2006), as shown below:
Visa Waiver Program - Participating Countries
- Andorra
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Brunei
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Liechtenstein
- Luxembourg
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Portugal
- San Marino
- Singapore
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom *
According to the U.S. Customers and Border Protection:
"*For citizens with the unrestricted right of permanent abode in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man. After May 15, 2003, citizens of Belgium must present a machine-readable passport in order to be granted admission under the VWP. This requirement also applies to citizens of Andorra, Brunei, Liechtenstein and Slovenia."
No visa if staying in USA for 21 days or less?
I have read on one website that said if somebody from the Philippines was coming to America and staying for 21 days or less, then they were not required to have a visa. Can you verify that information? I have been trying to look everywhere for it. I want to make sure this is true before making more plans. Thank you.
The Philippines is not a visa waiver country