Talk:Visa Waiver Program

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I would be interested in learning the history of the visa waiver program, especially with regard to countries that were on the list and then taken off (if any), etc.

The program is run by the Office of International Enforcement in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Contents 1 Passport requirements 2 Is it only applicable to United States 3 Merge with United States visas? 4 Map of VWP waiver countries

[edit] Passport requirements

I have changed the section about passport requirements. Apparently not only the date on which the passport was issued, but also on which it was extended (if applicable). I didn't find this information anywhere online, but airlines won't let you fly to the US unless you meet these requirements. 129.187.100.22 14:06, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

This information is crystal clear here: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html :

1. Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended between 10/26/05 and 10/25/06 – requires digital photograph printed on the data page or integrated chip with information from the data page.
2. Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended before 10/26/05 – no further requirements.

Dantadd 01:31, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Is it only applicable to United States

I understand that this is applicable to all countries which signed VWP 1986 agreement. Citizens of any countries which signed VWP 1986 agreement can travel between those countries without any valid visa. (For example citizen of Australia can travel to Belgium without visa and citizen of New zealand can visit Spain etc etc. Article gives the impression that this is applicable only for United states.--Indianstar 08:03, 1 January 2007 (UTC)

It is only applicable to the United States. It is not a multilateral agreement. JAJ 18:00, 1 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Merge with United States visas?

• I suggest this article should be merged with United States visas.
• This article reads like a cut-and-paste from a US government release. E.g. "27 countries participate in this program". The countries don't do anything, this is purely a US government entry regulation. Suggestion "The US government permits citizens of 27 countries to enter the US under this program".
• This article is lacking a criticism section. For example, visa waivers are usually reciprical (if country A abolishes visas for citizens of country B, then B also abolishes them for citizens of A). The US does not abide by this rule and, for example, requires visas for Greek citizens, wheras US citizens are allowed to travel throughout the Schengen area, including Greece, without a visa. See European Union visa lists. TiffaF 06:53, 24 January 2007 (UTC)

I disagree with merger as the VWP is important in its own right and has a number of specific conditions and requirements not usually found in equivalent programs for other countries. But feel free to change the wording to a more NPOV style if you wish. JAJ 03:40, 25 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Map of VWP waiver countries

Greenland should be colored blue as Greenlanders are Danish citizens. In fact, virtually all the overseas territories of Britain, France, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark and the Netherlands should be highlighted as VWP eligible. Canada and Bermuda should arguably be highlighted too, although in a different color. JAJ 03:59, 7 February 2007 (UTC)

You have to be a British Citizen, nothing else. (Bermuda has its own rules.) A passport indicating that the bearer is a British Subject, British Dependent Territories Citizen, British Overseas Citizen, British National (Overseas) Citizen, or British Protected Person does not qualify for travel without a visa. Source: US Embassy in London. 86.143.52.79 14:52, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

Since 2002, people from the British Overseas Territories (except the Cyprus Sovereign Base Areas) hold full British citizenship. Similarly, the overseas territories of the other countries mentioned hold full citizenship. JAJ 02:39, 13 March 2007 (UTC)

Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa and all other U.S. dependencies should be colored dark blue as they fall under U.S. immigration. Some exceptions such as Navassa Island and U.S. Antarctic territories should not be colored because one will require special permits to enter these territories.--XLR8TION 00:42, 16 March 2007 (UTC)