The United States began accepting applications for visa-free entry from Israeli citizens

US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the introduction of short-term visa waivers to the United States for eligible Israeli citizens and nationals following Israel's acceptance into the United States Visa Waiver Program. As of October 19, Israeli citizens and nationals can apply for travel authorization to the United States through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).

Photo: IStock

On September 26, 2023, DHS, in consultation with the Department of State, included Israel in the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP), allowing eligible travelers to apply online for entry into the US via ESTA. These permits allow successful applicants to travel to the United States for tourism or business purposes for up to 90 days without first obtaining a US visa. Israeli citizens with valid B-1/B-2 visas may continue to use them for business and leisure travel to the United States.

Participation in the VWP program requires that a citizen wishing to enter the United States without a visa be a citizen of a country that provides the same benefits to U.S. citizens and nationals.

On the subject: Biden addressed the Americans about assistance to Ukraine and Israel: full text of the speech

Israel has made a written commitment to the United States that all US citizens traveling with a US passport may enter Israel without regard to national origin, religion or ethnicity. The United States continually monitors the program's compliance with all visa waiver countries, including Israel, to ensure they are in compliance with all program requirements.

Israeli citizens eligible to participate in the program must have a passport with a biometric key. Travelers holding non-biometric, temporary or emergency travel documents, or travel documents from countries not participating in the Visa Waiver Program are not eligible for Visa Waiver Program travel. They should apply for a US visa instead. It takes up to 72 hours for your ESTA application to be processed. The ESTA application is currently only available in English and will be available in other languages ​​starting November 1, 2023.

ESTA is an automated system that helps determine eligibility to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. After completing the ESTA application, travelers are notified that they are eligible to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program.

DHS uses application data to screen travelers before authorizing them to travel to the United States. As part of this process, information about suspected or known lawbreakers and other persons of interest is shared with appropriate law enforcement, national security, or counterterrorism agencies.

You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New York

Visa Waiver Program travelers with an intended stay of more than 90 days may be found inadmissible for entry into the United States. Such individuals will be denied entry into the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. In addition, persons admitted under the Visa Waiver Program who overstay their permitted period of stay will be expelled from the country under the Visa Waiver Program and will be ineligible for further travel under the program.

For some travelers, such as those wishing to stay in the United States for more than 90 days or intending to extend their stay or change status after arriving in the United States, traveling on a visa may still be the best option.

Read also on ForumDaily:

Dental Insurance in the USA: How It Works and Why You Could Be Hit with Huge Bills Even If You Have a Policy

Cooler than Warren Buffett: how a former tax employee turned $5000 into $22 million

Online shopping: which payment methods are the safest and which ones to avoid?

Florida authorities sound the alarm about flesh-eating bacteria: what you need to know

Talk to the AI ​​for 10 seconds and it will tell you whether you have diabetes or not

How to win a lottery jackpot: strategies from mathematicians and statisticians

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.