Under the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP), citizens of participating countries are allowed to visit the US without first applying for visas. Each must first fill out the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) form online and receive approval before traveling to the US (whereas, in contrast, a visa must be applied for at a consulate). The ESTA application can be found at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta.
However, under the new Visa Waiver Program Improvement & Terrorist Travel Prevention Act, which went into effect in January of this year, citizens of VWP countries who have visited Iran, Iraq, Sudan or Syria on or after March 1, 2011, or who have dual citizenship with Iran, Iraq, Sudan or Syria must apply for a travel visa at a US consulate and cannot rely on the ESTA for travel approval.
Similar articles
-
April 2022
Rick Steves’ Europe: The high life and humble devotion on Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor
-
April 2022
Countries the unvaccinated can visit. Mobile Passport Control app. Collecting a canceled-flight-reservation refund
-
February 2022
Online passport renewals on the horizon. Email scams on TSA program members
-
August 2021
Updates on countries' COVID-related entry requirements and on ETIAS and on REAL ID.
-
October 2020
In light of COVID-19, countries have new entry requirements for visitors
-
September 2020
Countries opening borders. COVID-19 safety considerations on commercial airlines