US Visa rules

Posted on March 19th, 2008 in Travel news plus deals, US visa rules

US VISA RULES for more in depth information see US VISA requirements

Who will need a visa?

Students, journalists and anyone planning to work in the US.

Who will NOT need a visa?

Those who hold a machine-readable passport * issued on or before 25th October, 2004.
Holders of biometric passports, which are likely to become available at some point in 2005.

*Machine-readable passports began replacing the hard-backed blue passports 10 years ago. They are soft-backed and maroon-coloured, with a barcode on the inside back cover. You will require this type of passport to enter the US from 26th October.

Important: Some travelers may not be eligible to enter the United States visa free under the VWP.

These include people who have been arrested, even if the arrest did not result in a criminal conviction, those with criminal records, (the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act does not apply to U.S. visa law).

However, remember it is actually the US immigration service who decide who can enter the USA not the US Embassy. The US immigration service require you to make the following declaration (filled out on a green visa waiver form on the plane)

“B Have you ever been arrested or convicted for an
offense or crime involving moral turpitude or a
violation related to a controlled substance; or been
arrested or convicted for two or more offences for
which the aggregate sentence to confinement was five
years or more; or been a controlled substance
traffiker; or are you seeking entry to engage in
criminal or immoral activities ? [YES] [NO]”

Certain serious communicable illnesses, those who have been refused admission into, or have been deported from, the United States, or have previously overstayed on the visa waiver program. Such travelers must apply for special restricted visas. If they attempt to travel without a visa, they may be refused entry into the United States.