ARTICLE · 19 FEBRUARY 2016

Don't Be Denied – "B-1" Prepared

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The United States government recently announced dramatic changes to the Visa Waiver Program, which allows visa free travel to the US for qualified nationals of 38 countries after making an online application using ESTA authorisation.

United StatesImmigration

Patrick Astey

The United States government recently announced dramatic changes to the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which allows visa free travel to the US for qualified nationals of 38 countries after making an online application using ESTA authorisation. The changes are intended to benefit the legitimate travel of the over one million passengers arriving to the US every day. The changes, implemented on January 21, 2016, affect nationals of qualifying VWP countries who are also Nationals of 'countries of concern' namely Iran, Iraq, Syria and Sudan as well as Nationals of VWP countries who have travelled to or been present in Iran, Iraq, Syria or Sudan after March 1, 2011.

Approximately 16,000 dual nationals with ESTA authorization have been identified and had their ESTA authorizations revoked. United States Customs and Boarder Protection (CBP) is reaching out to those whose ESTA authorizations have been revoked on the basis of dual nationality with the largest portion of people

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