<p>On December 18, 2015, the President signed into law the omnibus appropriations bill for 2016 which included the bill reforming the Visa Waiver Program. (VWP).</p>
<p>Under the Visa Waiver Program  (VWP), aliens can visit the U.S. for a maximum of 90 days provided they have a round trip ticket and are approved under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to entering the U.S.  There are currently 38 countries under the VWP including Japan and most of the European countries.  This program allows aliens to travel to the U.S. without formally obtaining a visa from the U.S. consulate in their home country.</p>
<p>According to the AILA organization summary, the main changes are:</p>
<ol style="margin: 0px 0px 15px 40px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; vertical-align: baseline; color: #000000;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">"Individuals who have been present in Iraq, Syria, Iran, or Sudan (or other countries designated by DHS as supporting terrorism or "of concern") at any time on or after March 1, 2011, are not eligible to participate in the VWP. The new law exempts those performing military service in the armed forces of a VWP country or those carrying out official duties in a full-time capacity in the employment of a VWP country government. In addition, DHS may waive exclusion from the VWP program if it would be in the law enforcement or national security interests of the United States.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">The new law also excludes from the VWP individuals who are nationals of Iraq, Syria, Iran, or Sudan. Nationality typically depends on the laws of the designated country, so it is important to note that an individual may be a national of a particular country, even if he or she has never resided in that country and/or does not have a passport issued by that country.</li>
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<p class="m20" style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; vertical-align: baseline; color: #000000;">To participate in the VWP an individual must possess at the time of application for admission an electronic passport that is machine-readable.</p>
<p class="m20" style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; vertical-align: baseline; color: #000000;">New conditions on VWP Countries</p>
<p class="m20" style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; vertical-align: baseline; color: #000000;">In addition to the restrictions imposed upon individuals, the new law also includes new conditions for participating countries such as passport security requirements, screening protocols, and information sharing. The new law also includes revocation provisions for countries failing to meet the new requirements. Some of these country requirements take effect immediately and others must be implemented within the next year."</p>
<p class="m20" style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; vertical-align: baseline; color: #000000;">The USCIS is expected to issue guidelines to implement this new law in the near future. In the event that an alien is not eligible to use the VWP to travel to the U.S., that alien may apply for a tourist visa at the US consulate in his or her home country.</p>
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