Visa Waiver: Everything you need to know to travel to the USA
Chile is the only Latin American country that is part of the United States Visa Waiver Program (VWP) , which has allowed for cultural, business, and tourism exchange between the two nations, benefiting more than 350,000 Chileans annually.
Since joining the program on February 28, 2014, Chilean citizens have been able to travel to the United States without a traditional visa, a measure that became effective on March 31 of that year.
In addition to Chile, the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) includes countries such as Germany, Australia, Japan, and the United Kingdom, as well as other nations in the European Union, and has proven to be an effective tool for facilitating international tourism and business. It offers the opportunity to explore world-renowned tourist destinations without the burden of visa procedures .
The United States boasts some of the world's best tourist destinations, such as vibrant Miami and its beaches, the theme parks in Orlando , and iconic, illuminated New York City . It's perfect for family trips and shopping enthusiasts.
Below, we provide everything you need to know about the Visa Waiver for traveling to the USA .
What is the Visa Waiver?
The U.S. Visa Waiver Program allows citizens of certain countries, including Chile, to enter the United States for tourism, business, or transit without a traditional visa . Instead, travelers must obtain electronic travel authorization through the ESTA system .
What is ESTA and how does it work?
The ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) is an online platform managed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, part of the Department of Homeland Security, that allows citizens of participating countries to apply for electronic travel authorization to enter the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP ). This process is conducted on the official website: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov .
When applying for ESTA, travelers will receive a response within 72 hours. Possible responses include: "Authorization approved," "Travel not authorized," or "Authorization pending."
To complete the process, applicants must pay a fee of $21 by credit or debit card. This includes a $4 administrative processing fee and a $17 authorization fee. If authorization is not granted, the $17 fee is not charged.
All members of the program
Germany, Andorra, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Chile , South Korea, Croatia, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Norway, New Zealand, Netherlands, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Poland, United Kingdom, Czech Republic.
Requirements for Chilean citizens
Chilean citizens must meet the following requirements to travel to the United States under the VWP:
- To be the holder of an electronic passport.
- Apply for travel authorization through the ESTA system.
- Pay the $21 fee.
You may also be interested in: Copa América 2024: The cities where Chile will play
Considerations regarding the Visa Waiver
The electronic passport , issued by the Civil Registry and Identification Service since September 2013, is the only type of passport accepted for applying for travel authorization through ESTA .
The electronic travel authorization is valid for tourism, business, and transit and lasts for two years . Each trip allows a maximum stay of 90 days and cannot be extended or have its status changed during the stay.
To better plan your trip, remember that authorization is received online within a maximum of 72 hours. Once you receive it, you can embark on your next adventure in the United States .
You might also be interested in: The best routes for traveling by motorhome in the United States
