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Andorra, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Of these, however, countries like Andorra, Belgium, Brunei, Liechtenstein, and Slovenia are required to have Machine Readable Passports (MRP) as of 1st October, 2003, for travelers entering the US under the VWP. From October 26th, 2004, travelers from all the above countries in the list are to produce MRP or a US visa.
One should however know that eligibility for the visa waiver scheme can be withdrawn at any time, particularly if the United States feels that citizens of a certain country are more likely to violate their VWP restrictions (such as working without a permit or overstaying their visa period). For instance, Argentina's presence in the VWP was terminated in 2002 on grounds of her financial crisis which could lead to iillegal immigration to the US.
On the current developments, Poland and South Korea are probable candidates to join the VWP by 2007. Moreover, an amendment to the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 proposes a two-year probationary participation in the Visa Waiver Program to certain countries who are presumed to be allies in the USA's war on terror.
- Requirements for the visa waiver program :
There are various requirements for the visa waiver USA:
- Machine readable and biometric passports :
- All travelers (including children) must have individual passports.
- Passports issued before October 26, 2005 must be machine readable.
- Passports issued after October 26, 2005 must be machine readable and contain a digitized photograph, or must be biometric passports.
- Passports issued after October 26, 2006 must be biometric.
- Passport validity :
- Return or onward ticket :
In case he/she is entering the U.S. by air or sea, the traveler must:
- be traveling on a participating commercial carrier and;
- be possessing a valid return or onward ticket.
4. Other eligibility requirements :
- Applicant should not be ineligible for a visa;
- Applicant should not have other intention of visiting the US other than tourism or a short term business visit.
- If the applicant is entering through land, he/she must pay a fee of $6.
Visa waiver program restrictions :
- A person entering the United States under the VWP cannot request an extension of the original allowed period of stay
- A person who has entered the U.S. under the VWP may not request a change of immigration status while in the U.S.
- If a person seeking to enter the U.S is denied entry, there is no way the ruling can be reversed
For more information on Visa Waiver USA, please refer to www.mapsofworld.com .
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