U.S. Customs Visa Waivers
The Visa Waiver Program allows people from 36 countries to come to the United States for tourism or business without a visa and to stay for up to 90 days, according to the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the U.S. Department of State.
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Purpose
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The purpose of the VWP program is to eliminate unnecessary barriers to travel and to promote tourism.
Countries
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The overwhelming majority of the countries participating in the program are European. Other participating countries include Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Brunei, Iceland and Singapore.
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Requirements
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To be included in the program, countries must meet various security criteria such as data sharing with the United States and timely reporting of lost and stolen passports. However, the U.S. government has discretion whether or not to include a country in the program. Individuals must have a passport that will be valid for six months past their stay in the United States, must travel on certain approved carriers if traveling by air and sea, prove that they have the money to support themselves, and be approved by the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, an automated system that helps determine whether travel by an individual poses a law enforcement or security threat to the United States.
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