The United States is committed to expanding travel to the U.S. with a new visa waiver policy. This policy change allows travelers from some countries to enter the U.S. for business or tourism purposes without a visa and stay for up to 90 days. The policy change, called the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), is intended to streamline the entry process and reduce wait times.
The U.S. government is looking to boost travel to the most popular tourist destinations, such as Las Vegas, New York and Los Angeles, while also attracting more visitors to smaller towns and rural areas.
Expanded Visa-Free Entry to the United States: Eligible Countries and Other Important Details
Are you planning to visit the United States under the Visa Waiver Program? The current ESTA application fee is USD 21.00 if you apply through the official website. #TravelTipsTuesday
For more information and to apply for ESTA, please click here: https://t.co/BmLHUiDW6M pic.twitter.com/zrUOMCsHDR
—CBP (@CBP) January 23, 2024
Countries eligible to enter the United States under the VWP include Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, 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, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.
As a result of this initiative, the “other countries” category (which includes countries not participating in the initiative) is expected to decrease from 37% to 35%. Plans are underway to add more countries to the VWP list. Visa-free travel from countries such as Canada and Mexico accounts for more than 50% of international tourists visiting the United States.
Check out our guide to deciphering the US Diversity Visa.
From wildlife parks to canyons, theme parks to museums, lakes to waterfalls, beaches to islands, the United States is a popular travel destination for people from all over the world. Some of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States are Los Angeles, Chicago, Las Vegas, Reno, New York, Washington, Seattle, San Francisco, Hawaii and Alaska.
(Feature Image Credit: Michael Discenza/Unsplash)
Related: Metropolitan Museum of Art Guide: How New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art Redefines Grandeur and Inspiration