The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables citizens of participating countries to travel to the United States for business or tourism for 90 days or less without obtaining a U.S. B-1 or B-2 visa. Those entering for business purposes as defined in INA 101(a)(15)(B) are admitted in WB status. Those
ARCHIVED CONTENT maintained for research and reference purposes only. This page archives information on the geographic COVID-19 Proclamations that limited entry to the United States by individuals who were physically present in a covered country during the 14-day period prior to their planned entry
The Department of State (DOS), in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has authorized consular officers until December 31, 2022 to waive, in their discretion, the in-person interview requirement for the following individuals as described in the DOS Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM
U.S. Passport Considerations Passport agencies across the U.S. closed in mid-March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, creating a significant backlog of applications. As of January 2022, the U.S. Department of State states that routine processing times are 8-11 weeks and expedited processing of 5
Proclamation 10043 of May 29, 2020, titled Proclamation on the Suspension of Entry as Nonimmigrants of Certain Students and Researchers from the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Effective at 12:00 p.m. eastern daylight time on June 1, 2020, and will remain in effect until terminated by the
This page tracks U.S. visa and entry restrictions related to COVID-19. See NAFSA's Coronavirus Critical Resources Page for related information and resources. Page Contents COVID Vaccine Requirement Effective November 8, 2021 (updated 06/10/2022) Geographic Proclamations No Longer in Effect (updated
NAFSA has assembled these resource links to help you navigate issues arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. In Proclamation 9994 of March 13, 2020, President Trump declared a national emergency concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 is the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. In
A Department of State (DOS) final rule prohibits consular officers from issuing B visas if they determine the applicant's principal purpose is what the administration calls "birth tourism." See 85 FR 4219 (January 24, 2020), effective on the date of publication. DOS published this as a direct final
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) interim final rule published at 87 FR 18967 (April 1, 2022) will expand the ESTA pre-registration requirement to Visa Waiver Program (VWP) visitors planning to enter the United States through land ports of entry. Currently, ESTA pre-registration is needed