U.S. policy permits citizens of certain countries as identified below to travel to the United States without a visa. The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) permits nationals from designated countries to apply for admission to the United States for 90 days or less as nonimmigrant visitors for business or pleasure without first obtaining a U.S. nonimmigrant visa.

You must be a citizen or national of the following countries to be eligible to travel to the United States under the VWP.

• Andorra
• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Brunei
• 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

To be eligible to travel under the VWP, British citizens must have the unrestricted right of permanent abode in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man.

At the time of application for admission, a VWP applicant must:

• Be in possession of a round-trip ticket that will transport the individual out of the United States to any other foreign port or place as long as the trip does not terminate in contiguous territory or an adjacent island—except that the round trip ticket may transport the traveler to contiguous territory or an adjacent island if the traveler is a resident of the country of destination or if arriving at a land border, provides evidence of financial solvency and a domicile abroad to which the traveler intends to return;

• Be arriving on designated carrier that is signatory to a Visa Waiver Program Agreement, if applicable;

• Have a machine-readable passport valid for 6 months beyond the period of intended stay, or essentially 9 months (90 days + 6 months). The Department of State's 6-month list extending the validity of certain foreign passports can be found on the Department of State website (a traveler with an expired passport is ineligible for VWP admission); and

• Complete an Arrival/Departure Form I-94W. Travelers arriving at a land border will be required to pay the required Form I-94W processing fee.

In addition, VWP visitors may not file an application to change status to an immigrant or another nonimmigrant classification or extend their stay beyond the 90-day timeframe. VWP applicants waive their right to proceedings before an Immigration Judge, unless they make an asylum application.

In South Dakota, as in all U.S. states, the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) is governed by federal law, not state statutes. The VWP allows citizens of participating countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. To be eligible for the VWP, travelers must have a valid e-Passport, complete the online authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), and meet other requirements such as having a round-trip ticket with a VWP-compliant carrier. While in the U.S., VWP visitors cannot change their status or extend their stay beyond the authorized 90 days. In the event of an immigration violation, they also waive their right to contest removal, except in asylum proceedings. It's important for visitors to comply with the VWP regulations to avoid issues with future travel to the U.S.