ESTA / Visa Waiver Program
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows citizens of 41 countries — including Japan, the UK, Germany, France, South Korea, and Australia — to travel to the US for business or tourism for up to 90 days without a visa. Travelers must obtain an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) online before departure. ESTA costs $21 and is valid for 2 years. Important limitations: no extensions beyond 90 days, no change of status to most visa categories, and denial of ESTA can complicate future visa applications. Over 23 million travelers use VWP annually.
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