The visa interview waiver authority for low-risk applicants, which was scheduled to end on December 31, has been extended by the US Departments of State and Homeland Security.

Consular officers have the authority to waive in-person visa interviews for specific low-risk non-immigrant visa applications under the visa interview waiver authority. Applicants who qualify have a history of visiting the United States in the past and are still subject to the rigorous background checks and screening procedures that all non-immigrants undergo.

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables most citizens or nationals of participating countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. Travelers must have a valid Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approval prior to travel and meet all requirements. If the visitor prefers to have a visa in his or her passport, he/she may still apply for a visitor (B) visa.

Not extending the waiver authority would have led to substantially longer wait times for 40% of individuals applying for visas, resulting in billions of dollars in lost traveler spending and impacting the U.S. economy.

US travel industry experts emphasize the importance of interview waivers for low-risk travelers in safeguarding the American economy and alleviating the visa backlog caused by the pandemic, which has impeded the growth of international inbound travel to the United States.

Despite almost four years passing since the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the United States is experiencing a decrease of 13 million visitors compared to 2019. A significant factor contributing to this decline is the persistently lengthy wait times for visa interviews, which currently average over 400 days in key source markets. Granting the authority to waive visa interviews is a significant measure towards enhancing global competitiveness and facilitating a more streamlined and secure travel experience.

Extending the visa waiver authority by the Biden administration resulted in preventing the loss of 64 million visitors and $215 billion in spending over the next decade. Without the extension, the US would have lost an additional 2.2 million visitors and $5.9 billion in traveler spending in 2024 alone.

There are currently 41 countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program:

Andorra (1991)
Australia (1996)
Austria (1991)
Belgium (1991)
Brunei (1993)
Chile (2014)
Croatia (2021)
Czech Republic (2008)
Denmark (1991)
Estonia (2008)
Finland (1991)
France (1989)
Germany (1989)
Greece (2010)
Hungary (2008)
Iceland (1991)
Ireland (1995)
Israel (2023)
Italy (1989)
Japan (1988)
Korea, Republic of (2008)
Latvia (2008)
Liechtenstein (1991)
Lithuania (2008)
Luxembourg (1991)
Malta (2008)
Monaco (1991)
Netherlands (1989)
New Zealand (1991)
Norway (1991)
Poland (2019)
Portugal (1999)
San Marino (1991)
Singapore (1999)
Slovakia (2008)
Slovenia (1997)
Spain (1991)
Sweden (1989)
Switzerland (1989)
Taiwan (2012)
United Kingdom (1988)

The citizens of the new countries of Curacao, Bonaire, St Eustatius, Saba and St Maarten (the former Netherlands Antilles) are not eligible to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program if they are applying for admission with passports from these countries.