Differences between the Existing Guam Visa Waiver Program and the New Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program

Beginning November 28, 2009, U.S. immigration law will apply to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program will be in effect. Until then, the current Guam Visa Waiver Program will remain in effect.

Key Differences Between the Programs

Guam Visa Waiver Program:

• Admission not to exceed 15 days
• Admission only to Guam
• Does not provide for onward travel to the rest of the U.S.
• 15 participating countries / geographic areas:
  • Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Singapore, Solomon Islands, Taiwan (Residents who begin travel in Taiwan and fly to Guam without an intermediate layover or stop en route), United Kingdom (including citizens of Hong Kong), Vanuatu, Western Samoa
• Requires completed and signed Form I-736, Guam Visa Waiver Information form

Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program:

• Admission not to exceed 45 days
• Admission to Guam or the CNMI
• Does not provide for onward travel to the rest of the U.S.
• 12 participating countries / geographic areas:
  • Australia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Republic of South Korea, Taiwan, United Kingdom.
• Requires completed and signed Form I-736, Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Information form, and a completed Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record
• Requires valid unexpired ICAO compliant, machine readable passport
• Requires no previous violations of any prior admissions to the U.S.

Changes to the List of Countries / Geographic Areas

Added: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is added to the list of participating countries / geographic areas:

• The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport and Hong Kong identification card will be required for admission.
• Citizens of Hong Kong previously were eligible for admission under the Guam VWP as citizens of the United Kingdom.

Removed: The following four countries are removed from the participating country list:

• Indonesia, Vanuatu and Western Samoa because of high visa refusal rates.
• The Solomon Islands because of ongoing political and civil instability.