The benefits of the Visa Waiver Program

For many, America is synonymous with adventure, metropolises that never sleep, vast stretches of wilderness where nature still reigns, national parks and sometimes, the pursuit of the American dream. Every year, millions of travelers enter the United States with a visa, but in some cases, a visa is not required. In fact, the creation of the Visa Waiver Program makes it easier to enter the USA without a visa, thanks to the ESTA travel authorization.

What is the Visa Waiver Program?

The VWP is the product of collaboration between the Homeland Security Department and the DOS. It enables foreign nationals from participating countries to travel to the USA without needing a US visa. In view of the difficult international context, the authorities have introduced a travel authorization system known as ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization). For travelers, this document facilitates access to the country, since a visa is not required. For U.S. Customs, the process represents an enhancement of homeland security: the ESTA form collects travelers’ information and verifies their identity before they board the plane or ship. The success of ESTA has been proven, and a similar ETIAS authorization will be introduced for entry into Europe from 2025.

Below is the list of countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program:

Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Taiwan, United Kingdom.

If you are a citizen of one of these countries, you can apply to the U.S. government for an ESTA. Thepurpose of ESTA is to allow you to travel to the United States without a visa, subject to the following conditions:

• Stay in the USA for a maximum of 90 consecutive days;
• Tourism or business;
• Participate in social, sporting, musical or cultural activities, as long as they are not remunerated;
• Enroll in courses that do not provide credit toward a U.S. university degree.

If you are planning a business trip, you are entitled to :

• Participate in professional meetings, conferences, conventions or short-term (unpaid) training courses;
• Negotiate and sign contracts.
  

How to obtain an ESTA under the VWP

Completing the ESTA form online is easy. You only need to be in possession of a valid passport to enter the USA.

Whatever your reasons for wishing to travel to the United States, this travel authorization allows you to stay several times during its 2-year validity period. There is no such thing as a free ESTA. However, the price of an ESTA is low compared to the price of a tourist visa for the USA.