The Visa Waiver Program Success Story—Our Newest Chapter
Each year, we welcome hundreds of millions of visitors to America. Since 1986, many of them have arrived under our Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which 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.
Last month, President Bush announced that seven new nations – the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, and Korea – have met the requirements needed to enter the program. Starting today, eligible tourists and business people from these nations will be able to travel to the United States without a visa and contribute to our economy, as visitors have from other VWP countries for more than a generation. They will return to their countries with a first-hand impression of America and its people, helping us further enhance our reputation overseas.
The admissions requirements reflect a significantly upgraded and modernized VWP. Acknowledging the need to modernize and to recognize post-9/11 realities, they include new elements, mandated by Congress, such as new security provisions for countries and visitors alike.
Under the new requirements, countries must now provide information about serious crimes, known and suspected terrorists, timely reporting of lost and stolen passport data and cooperation on airport and aviation security.
As for individual visitors, our Department’s new Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) requires all VWP travelers to submit biographical and eligibility information on-line prior to their departure for our country. This will enable us to pinpoint potential security threats ahead of time, identify ineligible individuals before they board (saving them a wasted trip to a U.S. airport and back) and process authorized travelers more efficiently.
For the better part of a year, I have been privileged to work with my colleagues in each of the seven countries that are joining the VWP. I am proud of their accomplishments as free nations that have stood up to tyranny. Their admission to the program is a milestone in their history. It promises to be a boon to our country, while opening a bright new chapter in the VWP success story.
Michael Chertoff
Labels: border security, CBP, ESTA, international partners, travel security
posted by DHS at
12:23 PM
2 Comments:
I think this is a great program. It's becoming more and more obvious that ours is a global economy. The more we interact with the rest of the world the better it will be for them and us. This will definitely help people interact at an international level. As long as the security measures are in place, this program should continue to be a great success.
By
Michael Payday, At
November 18, 2008 11:58 AM
Surely I am glad that 7 new nations are able to have the visa waiver program . My concern is the government should look into helping us ( Citizens and PR ) to be able to bring our loved ones (children) to visit us ( 90 days or less)while waiting for the Relative visa(I-130) approval.
It is incredible to have visitors but it is 'hearbreaking' to that families are not able to see each other and these are the ones who follow the law (ie applying and following the system and law).
By
Anonymous, At
November 21, 2008 9:53 PM
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