After several decades of being forced to wait to apply for and secure a visa, Israel on Wednesday was admitted into the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Secretary of State Antony Blinken made the official announcement.
To enter the US under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), Israelis must:
- ESTA is an automated online system that determines the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP),
- To use the ESTA program, Israelis must be over 18 and have a biometric passport valid for ten years.
- Have a valid passport for at least six months beyond their intended departure to the US.
- Obtain an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) at least 72 hours before traveling to the US.
- Those who still hold non-biometric passports must apply at the US embassy in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv and go through an interview.
- Israelis looking to stay in the US for extended periods to study or work still need visas from the embassy and cannot enter under the VWP.
- The visa waiver program is scheduled to commence on November 30 this year.
To obtain an ESTA, Israelis must:
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- Go to the ESTA website and complete the online application.
- Pay a $21 processing fee.
- Answer questions about their identity, travel plans, and criminal history.
Once an ESTA is approved, it is valid for two years or until the traveler’s passport expires, whichever comes first.
Israelis who are traveling to the US for business or tourism can stay in the US for up to 90 days without a visa under the VWP. If they plan to stay longer or for a different purpose, they must apply for a visa at a US embassy or consulate.
Here are some additional tips for Israelis entering the US under the VWP:
- Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond the date of your intended departure from the US.
- Apply for an ESTA at least 72 hours before traveling to the US.
- Be honest and accurate on your ESTA application.
- Proof of onward travel, such as a return ticket or onward travel arrangements.
- Be prepared to answer questions from US Customs and Border Protection officers upon arrival in the US.
- Individuals with scheduled visa interviews for short-term travel must attend as scheduled. Any fees paid for these appointments are non-refundable, so financial recovery is impossible.
- The visa obtained through the ESTA application, valid for two years, supports multiple travels, each with a 90-day duration limit. It’s distinct from the B1/B2 tourist visa, offering a decade-long validity and permitting a six-month stay. B1/B2 visa holders enjoy the privilege of applying for status modification while in the US, a benefit not extended to those under the waiver program.
Chargé d’Affaires in the US Embassy, Stephanie Hallett, congrate Israel with “mazal tov” on becoming the 41st country to enter the VWP, calling it “yet another reflection of the strength of our bilateral security, economic and cultural relationship.”
The decision was made after Israel agreed to ease its travel restrictions on Palestinian Americans, including allowing them to apply for an ESTA-like permit to enter Israel. The Biden administration made clear that it would not admit Israel into the VWP until it eased its travel restrictions, at least for those with US citizenship.
Last year, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu barred Democratic Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar from entering Israel due to their support for Israel boycotts. The US has advised Israel not to deny entry to American citizens who hold similar opinions on the topic.
“The US would continue to monitor Israel’s compliance with the VWP requirements and reserves the right to suspend or terminate Israel’s membership in the program,” Biden officials said.
“Entry into the program is not the end of a process, but rather the start of a close, continuing collaboration on maintaining all of these program requirements, including the continued extension of reciprocal privileges by a partner country,” Hallett said, echoing the warning from administration officials.
