Visa Waiver: In the event of rejections, the alternative is the B1/B2 tourist visa
" Your Visa Waiver has been canceled ." A phrase that is ruining the travel plans to the United States for Chileans, who have reported through various channels the last-minute cancellations of their permits to enter North American territory .
Confidence in the Visa Waiver program and the ESTA system is wavering, and many are already opting for the more traditional alternative, the B1/B2 tourist visa , or choosing to purchase extended cancellation insurance that allows them to receive a partial or full refund of the money invested in the trip.
What's happening with the Visa Waiver?
Traveling to the United States has been a streamlined process for years thanks to the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) . This privilege, which Chile has enjoyed since 2014 and is the only Latin American country in the program , allows Chilean citizens to visit the United States for up to 90 days without a conventional visa .
The only next step has been to obtain an electronic authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) , managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security , which allows citizens of VWP countries to apply online for permission to travel without a visa .
A fee of $21 (approximately 19,752 Chilean pesos ) is charged, of which $4 is for administrative processing and $17 is for authorization. If the application is denied , only the administrative fee is charged.
But the system's greatest advantage—its speed and ease —has become a double-edged sword . The number of unexpected rejections has been increasing, and uncertainty has taken hold among those planning a trip to the US .
There are no official figures on rejections
The situation began to change between the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025. Cases of sudden cancellations , such as that of journalist Daniel Silva , began to raise alarms and made the Visa Waiver issue more of a media topic.
View this post on Instagram
According to figures (via EMOL ) from the Civil Aeronautics Board (JAC) , passengers traveling from Chile to the United States decreased by 7.5% in April of this year.
On the other hand, according to reports such as that of Diario Financiero (DF) , neither the Foreign Ministry nor the United States Embassy in Chile have the figure of how many visa waiver applications have been rejected during the last time.
The Foreign Ministry informed DF : " The granting and processing of visa waiver applications is an automated process that depends on the United States . As a State, we have no involvement (…) for this reason it is very difficult to obtain accurate information , except for the individual submissions that some affected people have reported to the Foreign Ministry or to our consular network , which also does not allow us to establish consistent figures ."
The alternative if the Visa Waiver is cancelled: The B1/B2 visa
Faced with this uncertain scenario , many Chileans are already opting to apply for the traditional tourist or business visa , known as the B1/B2 visa . Although the process is longer and more expensive , it offers greater stability and the peace of mind of having a visa valid for up to 10 years , unlike the ESTA authorization , which lasts only two years or until the passport expires .
This is a nonimmigrant visa , granted to those who wish to enter the United States for tourism (B2) or business (B1) purposes. It is mandatory for all travelers who do not qualify for the Waiver Program , including children and infants .
But simply wanting to travel isn't enough. U.S. immigration and nationality law establishes that every applicant is presumed to be a potential immigrant , so they must demonstrate ties to Chile , such as employment, family, property, or other responsibilities that ensure their return to the country .
The fundamental requirements are :
- Justify that the purpose of the trip is tourism or business .
- Demonstrate that the stay will be temporary .
- Prove residency outside the U.S. and strong ties to Chile .
How do I apply for a B1/B2 visa?
The process consists of several steps:
- Complete the DS-160 form online, providing personal, employment, and travel background information .
- Create an account in the official system to schedule an appointment, entering the DS-160 confirmation number .
- Enter a document delivery address .
- Pay $185 as an application fee .
- Schedule a consular interview at the United States Embassy in Santiago and arrive on the assigned day, at least 15 minutes early .
Although the process takes longer than ESTA authorization , it has the advantage of lasting up to 10 years , allowing multiple entries into the country , which is attractive for frequent travelers or people who visit family or make regular connections .
Faced with the increase in rejections in the ESTA system and the economic losses due to last-minute cancellations , the traditional B1/B2 visa is emerging as a more reliable alternative , although with a greater investment of time and money .
Essential: Extended cancellation insurance
If travelers want to avoid significant financial losses in the event of their Visa Waiver cancellations , the most important thing is to purchase cancellation insurance before traveling, which will cover most or all of their expenses. Universal Assistance offers extended cancellation insurance with no deductible.
The advantage of this extended cancellation insurance is that it applies not only to visa cancellations, but also to 16 other reasons :
- Death or serious illness of the policyholder, their spouse, child/s sibling/s.
- Death or hospitalization due to accident or serious illness arising suddenly and acutely of the father or mother.
- Damage caused by fire or theft in the residence or in the property where the business activity is carried out.
- Quarantine or medical social isolation prescribed by a medical professional.
- Summons of the holder as a party, witness or juror before a court.
- Call for the holder to serve as a member of the electoral board.
- The involuntary loss of the holder's job.
- Delivery of children and adolescents for adoption or guardianship/custody.
- Trip cancellation by the travel companion of the holder.
- Presentation of the holder to competitions in a selection process for a public office.
- Theft or robbery of the holder's documents.
- Pregnancy complications, miscarriage: from the end of week 26.
- Call for divorce or separation proceedings in a judicial or administrative instance, not by the holder.
- Travel transfer expenses for reasons included in this clause.
- Total and definitive cancellation of the trip or tour package as a result of a delay of the means of air, river or land transport of more than 24 hours (situations of force majeure are excluded).
- Sudden call for organ transplantation of the holder or a relative.
- Visa denial: The refusal to grant visas for unjustified reasons .
Those who need to travel to the United States for vacation, business, or family visits should assess the risk of relying on ESTA and seriously consider applying for a visa , especially if they have important flights, work commitments, or events they cannot miss.
You might also be interested in: 5 reasons to sail on San Rafael Lagoon
