What is the Visa Waiver Program?
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) is administered by DHS and enables eligible citizens or nationals of designated countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less without first obtaining a visa.
What are the passport requirements to travel under the Visa Waiver Program?
Travel under the VWP is restricted to travelers possessing passports with specified security features. Visa Waiver Program requirements are:
- The passport must have a machine-readable zone on the biographic page.
- The passport must be an electronic passport with a digital chip containing biometric information about the passport owner.
As of April 1, 2016, all travelers must have an e-passport to use the VWP. An e-Passport, denoted by the symbol e-passport logo, is an enhanced secure passport with an embedded electronic chip. E-Passports are issued by the proper passport issuing authority and must meet international standards for securing and storing information corresponding to the passport and bearer.
I just got an email stating my ESTA has been cancelled because of a non e-passport, however my passport is an e-passport with the symbol on the cover. What should I do?
Please check your application with your e-passport on the ESTA website. If you submitted your email address on more than one ESTA application, the email could be referencing another ESTA application for a previous passport. The email you received refers to the cancelation of the ESTA application of your non e-passport. Your ESTA application with your current e-passport should still be valid.
Do you have a communicable disease?
The ESTA website has been updated and HIV has been removed from the list of communicable diseases. Therefore, an individual who is HIV-positive should not indicate that he or she has a communicable disease of public health significance when applying for an ESTA, based on his or her HIV status alone.