Travel Stack Exchange
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Questions tagged [us-visa-waiver-program]

A US program that allows citizens of specific countries to visit the United States for tourism or business purposes without a visa.

The US Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows travellers of certain nationalities to visit the US for tourism or business purposes without the need for a visa, for a maximum of 90 days. This is a bilateral agreement, meaning that all countries participating in the VWP must allow US citizens to visit for tourism or business purposes without the need for a visa, for a maximum of 90 days.

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I was born in a city which is now under control of a different country. What is my "country of birth" on US visa/ESTA applications?

A member of my family (who is a French citizen) is currently applying for the Visa Waiver Program of the USA. The member was born in a city in former French Algeria (before independence). In the field "Country of Birth", should he therefore select…
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Traveled on an invalid ESTA due to prior N Korea trip. How screwed am I?

So long story short: I went to North Korea for a week as a tourist in 2013. I received an ESTA in 2018. In early August 2019, people who have visited North Korea were no longer eligible for the VWP. I visited the US in late August 2019 — a few…
estafool324
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Travelling to the US on the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) to attend a job interview

I am a UK citizen who has been invited to the US for the purposes of an onsite interview in a few weeks' time. I have been looking online for an answer to this question and have found many conflicting reports (for examples of such differing opinions…
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How can I check if I am banned from travelling to the US?

I am a UK citizen and I last entered the US in 1998 under the Visa Waiver Program. I overstayed the maximum permitted time, leaving after approximately 21 months total stay. At no time was I contacted about my stay whilst there or upon leaving. I…
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What is the US Visa Waiver Program and what is an ESTA?

I wish to travel to the US and think I am eligible to do so under the Visa Waiver Program. I found a lot of information out there but am still having some trouble understanding how this works. What is the US Visa Waiver Program? What is an ESTA?
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How to complete ESTA application when "THE PAYMENT STATUS COULD NOT BE DETERMINED AT THIS TIME"?

I received a payment error during my ESTA application and still need to pay. The current application status for the last few hours shows: THE PAYMENT STATUS COULD NOT BE DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE CHECK BACK LATER FOR THE PAYMENT…
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Working in the USA for living expenses only; allowed on VWP?

My 18-year old niece has been offered work in LA by a 20 year old American born videographer she met at the Cannes Film Festival. She is learning scriptwriting/directing. He has suggested that he pays all of her “living expenses” instead of a salary…
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Overstayed my US visa for over 10 years, never got deported, can I return as a tourist?

In 2000, I traveled to the US via a J-1 Work And Travel program and lived there, illegally, for 11 years. I was never arrested, or had any trouble with the law, I was never deported. I paid my taxes (had a SSN), had numerous jobs, bank account, etc.…
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If I try to enter the US but can't pay the entrance fee, does that count as denial of entry?

When crossing into the USA by land, foreign visitors who can enter visa free must pay a processing fee. Suppose that, for whatever reason, I am unable to pay this fee, then I will not be allowed to enter. Does that mean I will have been formally…
gerrit
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Is volunteer work allowed in the US while visiting under the VWP or a B1/B2 visa?

I am going to Santa Monica for 4 weeks to polish my English in July and would like to volunteer at the Planetary Society located in Pasadena. I am a Swiss citizen and have a biometric passport. However, I don't have any special visa, as there is no…
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Is it permitted to look for a job while visiting the US under the Visa Waiver Program?

We already have a question on whether you can attend a job interview or look for work while in the US on a tourist visa. (Actually it's unresolved with two possibly conflicting answers and no solid reference). And we have a more recent question…
hippietrail
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Can I re-enter the USA after a 1-day overstay 3 years ago?

I visited the USA with an ESTA Visa Waiver 3 years ago and I left the country one day late; instead of 90 days I left on the 91st day, because the flight was bought like this. I do not have any stamp in my passport showing when I left the country.…
Ramóna Bob
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Can you still travel to America on the visa waiver program if you have been to Iran in transit?

Me and my wife travelled to South East Asia in 2017 and on the way back to the UK we had to do a layover in Iran. We didn't leave the airport nor did we get our passports stamped. My wife would like to visit the USA soon but is wondering whether…
Richard Jewels
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Overstayed my VWP in 2008 due to marriage - will I be denied a B2?

in 2008 I messed up badly. I traveled 3 times to the US on VWP. The first 2 times stayed the full length. Upon my third entry on VWP I was put through secondary inspection and asked tons of questions. It almost looked like they were going to send me…
Clumsy Paw
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US gave me Visa Waiver stamp rather than stamp on Visa

When arriving in the US, the passport control gave me an "Admitted" stamp with class "WT until 04 may 2017". However I have a (J-1) visa until June. Can this become a problem, or is the stamp unimportant as long as I have the visa? Update: I emailed…
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