The Visa Waiver Program

Normally, temporary visitors must apply for a B-1 visa for business purposes. This includes attending a conference, negotiating a contract, and other activities that are professional or commercial in purpose. However, you may be eligible to come without a visa under the visa waiver program. The visa waiver program, or VWP, allows people to come to the United States temporarily for business purposes.

If you need to visit the United States, it is important that you have the correct visa or other documentation for your visit. For help with business visas and other immigration services, please contact a qualified Orange County immigration attorney from Garg & Associates, P.C., today at 949-540-6704.

What is the VWP?

The VWP applies to temporary U.S. visitors who come for business or professional purposes. There are 36 different countries whose citizens are eligible for the VWP. These citizens can come to the U.S. for 90 days or less for businesses purposes without having to apply for an actual B-1 visa. However, they must still be screened through ESTA, or the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, before traveling to the U.S. Upon arrival, visitors are screened by US-VISIT to record biometrics and other pertinent information.

Countries Eligible for VWP

Countries that wish to be a part of VWP must meet certain security standards of the U.S. government. Some countries that have reached this status include:

• France
• Germany
• United Kingdom
• South Korea
• Japan
• Australia
• Brunei

When coming to the U.S. for a temporary business visit, you should double-check to see if you are eligible for the visa waiver program to bypass waiting for a B-1 visa.

Contact Us

At Garg & Associates, P.C., we strive to make your visit or transition to the United States as smooth as possible. To learn more about visas, naturalization, and other processes, please contact an Orange County immigration lawyer from Garg & Associates, P.C., at 949-540-6704 today.