United States Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas, along with Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, has announced that Qatar will now be part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). This program allows travelers from Qatar to enter the United States without a visa.
“The Visa Waiver Program is one of our most effective security initiatives. By including Qatar, we improve information sharing about one of the world’s busiest travel hubs. This strengthens U.S. security. I commend our partners in Qatar for meeting the strict requirements of this agreement, and I look forward to working together for our countries,” said Secretary Mayorkas.
Secretary Blinken added, “Qatar has met the tough security standards needed to join the Visa Waiver Program. This will enhance our partnership and ease the movement of people and goods between our nations. Travel between the U.S. and Qatar will be safer and more straightforward for both Americans and Qataris.”
Countries in the Visa Waiver Program
Alongside Qatar, the Visa Waiver Program includes several other countries: the United Kingdom, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, South Korea, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Taiwan.
However, travelers cannot use the Visa Waiver Program if they intend to study for credit, work as a journalist, or seek permanent residency in the U.S.
Understanding the Visa Waiver Program
The Visa Waiver Program allows travelers to enter the United States for business or tourism for up to 90 days without a visa, provided they meet certain criteria. This includes travelers who hold a B-1/B-2 visa for specific types of transit.
The Visa Waiver Program fosters strong security partnerships between the U.S. and countries that fulfill strict conditions. These conditions relate to counterterrorism, law enforcement, immigration enforcement, document security, and border management.
For a country to be eligible, it must have a non-immigrant visa refusal rate of less than 3% from the previous fiscal year and must issue secure travel documents. Participating countries are reviewed at least every two years to ensure they continue to meet all the program’s requirements.
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