United States visa policy

Please note that as of June 2022 the CDC no longer requires travelers to present a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of recovery from COVID pre arrival to the US

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Visa Policy for the United States

Foreign citizens wishing to visit the United States must meet the United States visa policy, which outlines the requirements they must meet to enter the country. There is a uniform immigration policy in the United States for all 50 states, and it is often the same for territories like Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The territories of Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa, however, have different visa regulations.

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The requirements for getting a visa for a trip to the United States vary by nationality and intention. Visas are generally not required for visa-exempt nationalities, such as Canada. Some countries allow indefinite stays while others have a limited stay.

Citizens of 39 countries do not need visas to stay in the United States for a short period of time, but they must pre-register for an electronic authorization (ESTA) and receive it before leaving. If citizens are not visa-exempt, they need to obtain a visa from the nearest US embassy or consulate. It is necessary to apply for the appropriate visa type, depending on whether you are traveling for business, pleasure, or to attend school.

As is the case for citizens of China, there are some countries whose citizens are required to obtain a visa through their embassies in addition to registering for the United States Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS). There are certain nationalities whose visa eligibility may be restricted in the United States and whose travel may be prohibited. Below you will find more details about the United States visa policy.

Tourist Visa Policy for United States

For short stays in the United States, including tourism, business, and transit, citizens of selected nationalities do not need to obtain a visa. Travelers may be required to obtain a travel authorization before departing, permitting them to enter the United States without a visa. ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) is an electronic visa waiver that citizens of 39 countries must register for before arriving on a commercial flight or cruise. In order to enter the country for longer periods and other purposes, travelers must make an appointment at a United States embassy or consulate in order to receive a visa.

To gain travel authorization for the United States, some nationalities must do both: apply for an embassy visa and register for the online visa update system.

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United States ESTA

A person from one of the 39 countries included in the US visa waiver program does not need a visa for 90 days. But they are still required to pre-register for an ESTA—a multiple entry electronic travel authorization that entitles them to travel to the United States more than once during its validity period.

You can apply online for an ESTA authorization. To do so, travelers need to provide personal information, passport details, and travel plans. Once they provide this information, they receive an ESTA linked to their passport. The recipient of an approved US ESTA online visa waiver may stay in the United States for up to 90 days per entry, either for business, tourism, or transit.

ESTAs are valid for two years from the date of issue or until the expiration of the passport associated with it. Citizens from eligible countries must provide a valid passport to obtain an ESTA. Below you will find a complete list of all countries for which an ESTA is required to enter the United States.

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

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United States Visa

According to United States visa policy, most travelers who need a visa for the United States must obtain a visa before traveling. Around 190 countries require travelers to apply for a visa at the US consulate or embassy. No matter the purpose and length of the intended trip to the United States, citizens from such countries need a visa from a US government diplomatic office.

For those traveling to the United States on a tourist visa, it is necessary to schedule a visa appointment at an embassy or consulate in their country of residence. When you have been assigned a visa interview appointment, you will need to print and complete a copy of the US visa application form.

The applicant is also required to indicate which type of US visa they are seeking and to bring supporting documents based on whether the trip is for tourism, transit, business, study, or for other reasons. In order to obtain a visa before arriving, travelers should apply to the US embassy in advance, as they might need to wait several weeks or more.

Find out if travelers from your country need a visa to travel to the United States below:

Afghanistan
Aland Islands
Albania
Algeria
American Samoa
Angola
Anguilla
Antarctica
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bonaire
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
Christmas Island
Cocos Islands
Colombia
Comoros
Congo
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cuba
Curacao
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
Fiji
French Guiana
French Polynesia
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greenland
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guatemala
Guernsey
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Isle of Man
Israel
Ivory Coast
Jamaica
Jersey
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Macau
Macedonia
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Martinique
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mexico
Moldova
Mongolia
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
New Caledonia
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Niue
Norfolk Island
North Korea
Northern Mariana Islands
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian Territory
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Pitcairn Islands
Qatar
Republic of Cyprus
Reunion
Romania
Russian Federation
Rwanda
Saint Barthelemy
Saint Helena
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Martin
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Sint Maarten
Solomon Islands
South Africa
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
South Sudan
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Swaziland
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tokelau
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Turks and Caicos Islands
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela
Vietnam
Wallis and Futuna
Zambia
Zimbabwe

Learn more about the United States visa policy

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Other Visa Information for United States

In 2016, the United States implemented the EVUS program for Chinese citizens seeking visas. In order to obtain a US visa electronically, Chinese citizens must use EVUS. The applicant must be an EVUS applicant with a 10-year B1/B2 visa for the USA and a passport from the People's Republic of China.

In order to submit an online EVUS application, an embassy or consulate must first grant a visitor B1/B2 visa. For Chinese citizens, this can either be a B1 (for business) or B2 (for tourism) visa. If there are multiple reasons for the travel, they can also apply for a combined B1/B2 visa. In the next step, you must complete the online EVUS application, by providing personal information, travel information, and passport details.

In order for EVUS to remain valid, it needs to be utilized within two (2) years or until the expiration date of the passport. The passport must be valid for the period of stay and for at least the next 6 months. EVUS holders may travel multiple times to the United States during their validity period.

The United States implemented the Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) to pre-screen foreign travelers, and the EVUS approval is linked to the applicant's passport.

Check if you need a visa to enter the United States