The Visa Waiver Program for New York (VWP) lets those from the following 36 counties to enter the United States up to a period of ninety (90) days without getting a travel visa to visit New York.

Andorra, Iceland, Norway, Australia, Ireland, Portugal, Austria, Italy, San Marino, Belgium, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, Latvia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Liechtenstein, Slovenia, Denmark, Lithuania, South Korea, Estonia, Luxembourg, Spain, Finland, Malta, Sweden, France, Monaco, Switzerland, Germany, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, Hungary, Greece and New Zealand.

Under this program, you are NOT allowed to work or go to school so you MUST apply for the correct visa before leaving your country. If you fail to do so and is discovered that you plan to work in the United States, you will be denied entry and will be detained so that you can be placed on a return flight back to your country within 48 hours.

Please note that not all travelers from the 36 counties are eligible to use this program and is required to apply for authorization though the (ESTA) Electronic System for Travel Authorization.

When applying, please plan to do it at least three (3) days or seventy-two (72) hours or more if you plan to travel to New York in a busy travel season where everyone will be applying for waivers along with yourself. If coming along with your pets (dogs, cats, birds, or other animals), be sure that they have the proper vaccination and take along the proof given from your veterinarian.

Once in the USA, be sure to keep a track of your time so you can file for an extension if an emergency will require you  stay more than ninety (90) days. For your stay to be extended, it must be approved by the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS’s) United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). To increase your chances of acceptance, at least forty-five (45) days before your authorized stay expires is recommend and meeting the following requirements. To get the process going, you will need to fill out a five (5) page Form-I539.

If you decide to stay longer without being allowed to do so, you could cause yourself to be banned from entering the United States in the future and deportation if you have not left the United States on your own and is caught by authorities.

Join us in our New York Forum if you have any comments or questions.