US Immigration Visas : Visa Waiver Program

All visa waiver program (VWP) travelers are required to present a machine-readable passport or a U.S. visa to be admitted to the U.S. Passports issued on or after October 26, 2005, must include a biometric identifier based on applicable standards estalished by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The Department of Homeland Security has announced that from October 26, 2005, a digital photograph of the passport holder's face printed on the data page of the passport will be the acceptable standard. Passports issued on or after October 26, 2006, must also include an integrated circuit chip capable of storing the biographic information from the data page, a digitized photograph and other biometric information.

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows U.K. citizens to be admitted to the U.S. under limited conditions and for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa.

To qualify for the VWP, you must:

• Intend to enter the U.S. for 90 days or less for business or pleasure; 
• Have a passport lawfully issued to you by a VWP country that is valid for six months beyond your intended visit; 
• Be a national of the VWP country that issued your passport; 
• Have been checked using an automated electronic database containing information about inadmissible aliens to the United States; 
• Have a return trip ticket; 
  • This requirement is waived in the case of travelers arriving at a land border.
• Not pose a safety threat to the United States; 
• Not have failed to comply with the conditions of any previous admission under the visa waiver program; 
• Convince the examining immigration officer that you are clearly and beyond a doubt entitled to be admitted and that you are not inadmissible under Section 212 of the INA; and 
• Waive any right to challenge an immigration officer's decision as to your admissibility, other than on the basis of an application for asylum.

When Does the VWP Program not apply for Citizens of a VWP Country?

It does not apply under the following circumstances, if you :

• Want to work or study in the United States; 
• have been refused a visa or admission to the U.S. before; 
• have a criminal record; or 
• are ineligible for a visa. See Classes of Aliens Ineligible for Visas.

Countries in the VWP

Passport holders for the following countries are eligible to use the Visa Waiver Program: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.