Tag: Visa Waiver Program

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) recently announced that individuals who have been present in Cuba or who are dual nationals of a Visa Waiver Program (“VWP”) country and Cuba will be ineligible for ESTA.  Previously, on January 21, 2021, DOS designated Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, making these individuals ineligible for travel […]

The Secretary of State and Department of Homeland Security have recently announced a new policy authorizing consular officers to waive the in-person interview requirement for certain temporary employment nonimmigrant visa applicants through December 31, 2022. This new authorization applies to temporary workers that are applying for the H-1B, H-3, H-4, L, O, P, and Q […]

The B-1 category allows individuals to enter the U.S. as business visitors. To qualify, you must prove the following: That you are entering to engage in permissible business activities; That your trip is temporary (typically six months or less); That you have sufficient funds to cover expenses; and That you have a residence and sufficient ties […]

On April 13, 2020, USCIS released guidance on what to do if a foreign national cannot depart the United States before their nonimmigrant status expires due to COVID-19. Typically, a nonimmigrant must depart the United States before their authorized period of admission expires. However, USCIS recognized that nonimmigrants may unexpectedly need to remain in the […]

The Trump administration has announced new rules in place for the 38 countries participating in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP). On December 15, 2017, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it would be rolling out enhanced security measures for the VWP as part of the administration’s ongoing counterterrorism efforts. The new rules […]

Last month, the U.S. began implementing changes to the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) under the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015. As a result, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have announced enhancements to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) to accommodate these updates. The updated ESTA application form […]

After careful consideration and consultation with the Director of National Intelligence and the Secretary of State, the Department of Homeland Security has announced that Libya, Somalia, and Yemen will be included as countries of concern, limiting Visa Waiver Program travel for certain individuals who have traveled to these countries since March 1, 2011. For now, […]

The Visa Waiver Program (“VWP”), created to allow individuals of certain pre-approved countries to enter the U.S. without first obtaining a visitor visa, was amended by Congress on December 18, 2015 as a part of the overall omnibus spending bill, H.R.2029. In response to the November 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris, a portion of the […]

In an effort to reinforce national security, the House of Representatives has passed a bill that would place restrictions on visa-free travel to the United States. This legislation was passed three days after President Barack Obama’s Oval Office speech on terrorism, during which he “ordered the Departments of State and Homeland Security to review the […]

Last week, Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh C. Johnson announced that the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State, along with certain other federal agencies, will begin introducing a number of additional and revised security criteria for all participants in the Visa Waiver Program. The criteria will apply to new and current members of […]