As reported previously, President Trump announced that his administration has nominated Poland as a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) participating country. Today, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin McAleenan formally
Continue Reading Poland Designated 39th Member Country in Visa Waiver Program
Visa Waiver Program
Trump Administration Nominates Poland for U.S. Visa Waiver Program
Today, President Trump announced that his administration has nominated Poland as a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) participating country. Entry into the U.S. Visa Waiver Program allows citizens of participating countries to travel to the United States for tourism, business, or in transit for up to 90 days without having to obtain a visa.
President Trump stated: “…This is an important step in continuing to increase economic, security, cultural, and people-to-people connections between our two nations. Now that Poland has been nominated, the Department of Homeland Security will take necessary action, as soon as possible, to assess Poland’s entry into the program. If Poland is designated as a Visa Waiver Program country, its nationals would be authorized for visa-free travel to the United States for business and tourism. The bilateral relationship between the United States and Poland has never been stronger, and this would serve as a remarkable accomplishment for both countries.”
Continue Reading Trump Administration Nominates Poland for U.S. Visa Waiver Program
Presidential Memorandum on Combating High Nonimmigrant Overstay Rates
On April 22, President Trump, in a quick turn to interior immigration enforcement, issued a Presidential Memorandum (Memo) initiating a process to develop administration initiatives to address visa overstays in…
Continue Reading Presidential Memorandum on Combating High Nonimmigrant Overstay Rates
DHS Releases Fiscal Year 2017 Entry/Exit Overstay Report
On Aug. 7, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the Fiscal Year 2017 Entry/Exit Overstay Report (or Overstay Report). Visa Overstay Reports have been requested by Congress in recent…
Continue Reading DHS Releases Fiscal Year 2017 Entry/Exit Overstay Report
New DOS Rule Regarding Misrepresentation – An End to the 30/60 Day Rule
On Sept. 1, 2017, the U.S Department of State (DOS) updated the Field Adjudicators Manual (FAM) at 9 FAM 302.9-4(B)(3). The Field Adjudicators Manual (FAM) serves to guide consular officers…
Continue Reading New DOS Rule Regarding Misrepresentation – An End to the 30/60 Day Rule
European Commission Delays Decision about U.S. Visa Waiver Reciprocity
In June we wrote about the April 12, 2016, European Commission Communication to the EU Council and Parliament concerning visa-free travel reciprocity with the United States and Canada. In its…
Continue Reading European Commission Delays Decision about U.S. Visa Waiver Reciprocity
The Current State of the Visa Waiver Program and Recent Developments within the European Union
Since the enactment of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016, which contained significant changes to the United States’ Visa Waiver Program (VWP) with the inclusion of the Visa Waiver Program…
Continue Reading The Current State of the Visa Waiver Program and Recent Developments within the European Union
e-Passport Mandatory for the Visa Waiver Program
On May 9, 2016, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released a statement clarifying that as part of the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist…
Continue Reading e-Passport Mandatory for the Visa Waiver Program
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Issues FAQ’s to Changes to VWP
As part of its efforts to educate the public about the new changes to the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) resulting from the enactment of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016,…
Continue Reading U.S. Customs and Border Protection Issues FAQ’s to Changes to VWP
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Provides Additional Guidance on Implementation of New Visa Waiver Program Law
This post updates our post from Jan. 22, 2016, concerning guidance released by the U.S. Department of State about implementation of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act. We have updated the post to provide a summary and link to additional information published by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) concerning the implementation and operation of the new VWP law. The CBP document can be accessed here.
In its FAQs, CBP reiterates the two new barriers to VWP participation based on travel and dual nationality. CBP reports that ESTA travelers who are “known” to be included in the dual national category will be notified in late January that their ESTA is no longer valid. CBP also reports that it is working on notification to ESTA travelers who have traveled to Iran, Iraq, Syria, or Sudan.Continue Reading U.S. Customs and Border Protection Provides Additional Guidance on Implementation of New Visa Waiver Program Law