Which Countries Can Travel To Usa Without Visa?

America is among the most popular global tourism centers, with millions of foreign travelers visiting the country annually. However, citizens of some countries require a visa to enter the USA whereas other citizens can enter the country without a visa under the Visa Waiver Programme.

Countries under the Visa Waiver Program

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables citizens of thirty- nine countries to enter the United States of America for tourism or business for up to ninety days without a visa. The VWP is designed to facilitate the entry of visitors who have gone through pre-screening to the US.

The 39 countries currently under the VWP are

Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom.

The citizens travelling to a VWP country do not require a visa to travel but they must meet the following conditions; they must have a valid passport, and return ticket to show that they have a plan of onward journey and they cannot stay in the US for more than 90 days. They should also be visiting for tourism or business purposes primarily. Those who intend to come to the US for purposes of studying, working, or permanently immigrating still need to secure the right visa before they embark on their journey to the country.

Countries that can enter the US without a visa

Although 39 countries are participating in the Visa Waiver Program, several other countries’ nationals are also allowed to travel to the USA without a tourist or business visa under other agreements. These include:

1. Canadian citizens: You do not need a visa for tourist or business travel to the United States if your stay is less than six months. Their passport should be valid for the period of their intended stay.

2. Bermuda - Bermudian citizens are allowed to enter the US without a visa for tourism or business purposes for up to 180 days. Their Bermudian passport should have been valid for the intended period of stay in the country.

3. Bahamas - The citizens of the Bahamas are allowed to travel to the United States of America without a tourist visa if they hold a valid passport of the Bahamas and intend to stay for up to 180 days.

4. British Virgin Islands - British Virgin Islands citizens are allowed to visit the continental United States for business or tourism if they have a machine-readable passport without having to get a visa. The stay is allowed for up to thirty days.

Thus, it can be noted that citizens of all countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program and Canada, Bermuda, Bahamas, and British Virgin Islands do not need a tourist or business visa to enter the United States. Nevertheless, the requirements for entry and length of their stay may differ. For more current information on visa policies, it is advisable to visit the official websites of the respective countries’ state departments.

Which countries require travel visas for the USA?

People from other countries not listed above should also get the right visa to visit the US depending on their reason for visiting. Some of the countries whose citizens would need visas include

• China
  
• India
  
• Russia
  
• Turkey
  
• South Africa
  
• Brazil
  
• Argentina
  
• Mexico
  
• Saudi Arabia
  
• Egypt
  
• Indonesia
  
• Thailand
  
• Philippines
  
• Vietnam
  
• Afghanistan
  
• Nigeria
  
• Kenya

The visa application involves completing and submitting a form, paying the visa fees, having your fingerprints scanned, and taking an interview at the US embassy or consulate in your home country. This might only be possible if the applicant can prove that they have strong ties in their home country so that they can be assured that they will return to their home country after their program in the United States of America is over. The visa approval rate might differ from country to country.

Types of US visas

Some of the common types of US visas that nationals from non-VWP countries might need include

• - Tourist visa (B1/B2) – for traveling for tourism purposes, visiting relatives or friends, etc
  
• - Business visa (B1) – for meetings, conferences, training
  
• - Student visa (F1) This is a visa that is issued to people intending to study in the United States of America.
  
• - H1B, L1, and Other work visa – For temporary skilled work
  
• - Investor visa (E2) – to invest a substantial amount in a business that is based in the US.
  
• - Family-based visa (Immigrant visa of the fifth preference, Crucial relocation visa of the first preference, etc) – It is designed for family reunification where the applicant has a family member who is an American citizen or a permanent resident.

To sum up, citizens of Canada, most European countries, and certain Asian and South American countries can enter the USA without a visa, while others must go through a complex process of obtaining a US visa to visit this culturally diverse country.

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