Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Visa Waiver Program?
- When wsa the Visa Waiver Program Implemented?
- What countries currently are participating in this program?
- How long is the Visa Waiver valid for each company?
- How long does it take for Universal to obtain the Visa Waiver Agreement?
- How much does it cost for the Visa Waiver, through Universal, per company?
- How long may travelers (each person) stay in the U.S. on the VWP?
- What happens to a visitor if an emergency prevents them from departing the U.S. within his/her period of authorized stay?
- Who administers the VWP?
- Can an alien leave the U.S. and be readmitted on the same Visa Waiver?
- How do passengers or crewmembers arriving into the U.S. from one of the participating countires obtain a Visa Waiver?
What is the Visa Waiver Program?
The Visa Waiver Program allows companies to bring citizens of participating countries into the U.S. for tourism or business for 90 days or less without obtaining a U.S. visa.
When was the Visa Waiver Program implemented?
The Visa Waiver Program was created by an act of Congress as a program in 1986 and implemented in 1988. Congress passed legislation to make the program permanent in October 2000, and the President signed the legislation on October 30, 2000.
What countries currently are participating in this program?
There are 27 countries participating in the VWP: Andorra, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
How long is the Visa Waiver valid for each company?
There is no expiration date. It is a one-time contractual agreement and does not have to be renewed.
How long does it take for Universal to obtain the Visa Waiver Agreement?
It normally takes approximately 2 weeks to obtain the contracts.
How much does it cost for the Visa Waiver, through Universal, per company?
Universal charges 900.00 USD per company to obtain the Waiver.
How long may travelers (each person) stay in the U.S. on the VWP?
Visitors applying for entry under this program are allowed to remain in the U.S. for 90 days. No extensions of stay can be granted without extreme extenuating circumstances. The VWP travelers also cannot change their status.
What happens to a visitor if an emergency prevents them from departing the U.S. within
his/her period of authorized stay?
If an emergency prevents a person from leaving, the district director having jurisdiction over the place of the alien's temporary stay may grant a period of satisfactory departure, not to exceed 30 days.
Who administers the VWP?
The Attorney General in consultation with the Secretary of State administers the VWP.
Can an alien leave the U.S. and be readmitted on the same Visa Waiver?
An alien admitted to the United States under this part may be readmitted, after a departure to foreign contiguous territory or adjacent island, for the balance of his or her original Visa Waiver Program admission period.
How do passengers or crewmembers arriving into the U.S. from one of the participating
countries obtain a Visa Waiver?
They must have a valid passport issued by the participating country and be a citizen (not merely a resident) of that country. As of October 1, 2007, the passport at the U.S. port of entry must be a machine-readable passport.