Visa-Free Travel to the United States to Begin November 17
October 31, 2008
On November 17, 2008 citizens of the Republic of Korea will be eligible to travel to the U.S. using the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). VWP travelers will be required to carry an e-passport and receive clearance via the online Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to travel.
Korean citizens participating in the VWP must be traveling for business, pleasure, or transit only; staying in the U.S. for 90 days or less; holding a valid return or onward, non-transferable airline ticket if arriving by air; and if arriving by air or sea, entering the U.S. aboard an air or sea carrier designated as a participant in the Visa Waiver Program.
Those not eligible to travel under VWP include people who plan to stay for more than 90 days or who may wish to change status (e.g., change from being a tourist to being a student) or adjust status (e.g., apply for U.S. permanent residence or a “Green Card”) once in the United States.
Other travelers who should obtain a visa before traveling include anyone who received a reply from ESTA indicating they need a visa, anyone who does not have an
e-passport, and anyone who plans to work or study in the United States. In addition, if a traveler has been refused a visa or been excluded or deported from the U.S., he/she must obtain a visa prior to travel.
Further information about who may or may not travel under VWP can be viewed in English at http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html#travelertype.
Travelers may apply for an ESTA clearance at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/esta/.
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