What is the Visa Waiver Program?

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) is a government program that allows certain foreign nationals to travel to the United States for business or pleasure for up to 90 days without needing a visa. It is managed by the Department of Homeland Security and requires travelers to register their information online prior to their arrival in the United States. The VWP is available only to citizens of certain countries that the United States has designated as having a close relationship with the United States. The countries currently participating in the VWP are: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. Travelers visiting the United States through the VWP will be required to provide biographic information during the enrollment process, including their name, date of birth, and passport information. Additionally, travelers must also obtain travel authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) before entering the United States. In Washington, foreign nationals visiting the United States through the Visa Waiver Program are subject to the same immigration laws and requirements as those entering with a visa. This includes the possibility of deportation if they overstay their period of admission or commit any criminal or immigration violations.

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El Programa de Exención de Visas (Visa Waiver Program) es un programa del gobierno estadounidense que otorga a ciertos ciudadanos extranjeros la oportunidad de visitar temporalmente todos los Estados Unidos, sin obtener primero una visa. El programa también exime a estos extranjeros de los requisitos de solicitud de visa de corta estancia. El programa ayuda a facilitar el viaje entre los Estados Unidos y 38 países participantes. Estos países incluyen la mayoría de los miembros de Europa Occidental, Australia, Nueva Zelanda, Japón y Singapur. Para estar elegibles para el programa de exención de visas en Washington, un ciudadano extranjero debe cumplir con ciertos requisitos establecidos por el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional. Estos requisitos incluyen tener un pasaporte emitido por uno de los países participantes y ser una persona sin antecedentes penales y sin intención de trabajar en los Estados Unidos. El ciudadano extranjero debe también demostrar que tiene planes de salir del país antes de que expire el período de exención de visas. Una vez que los ciudadanos extranjeros satisfacen estos requisitos, se les permitirá ingresar a los Estados Unidos temporalmente sin una visa de no inmigrante.

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