After Israel was granted entry into the United States Visa Waiver Program, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of the United States of America made an announcement regarding the beginning of visa-free travel for short-term visits to the United States for Israeli nationals and residents who meet certain requirements. Applications for travel permission to the United States can be submitted through the Electronic System for Travel permission (ESTA) of the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) beginning on October 19, 2023. This application process is open to Israeli citizens and nationalities that meet the requirements.
Israel is scheduled to become a participant in the United States Visa Waiver Program (VWP), according to an official declaration that was issued by the administration of Vice President Joe Biden in September of 2023. Consequently, citizens from Israel will be able to visit the United States without the requirement of obtaining a visa for a period of up to ninety days, which is a significant benefit.
It is necessary for citizens of any country who wish to enter the United States without the need for a visa to come from a country that reciprocates the benefits that are granted to citizens and nationals of the United States in order to be eligible for participation in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). In a written pledge to the United States, Israel has guaranteed that all citizens of the United States who are traveling with a passport issued by the United States will be able to enter Israel without being subjected to any form of discrimination on the basis of their national origin, religion, or ethnicity. Maintaining a continuous monitoring procedure is something that the United States does in order to ensure that all VWP countries, including Israel, continue to comply with the program’s standards and remain in compliance.
If I am an Israeli citizen or national, what are the requirements to be eligible for the Visa Waiver Program?
In order to be eligible, Israeli citizens and nationals are required to possess a passport book that is equipped with biometric capabilities. This program is not available to travelers who possess non-biometric passports, temporary documents, emergency travel documents, or travel documents from countries that are not designated under the Visa Waiver Program. Instead, travelers should submit an application for a visa to enter the United States from their home country. The processing of applications for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) could take up to three days. At the moment, the application is only available in English. However, there are plans to make it available in other languages by November 1, 2023.
A number of issues, such as counterterrorism, law enforcement, immigration control, document security, and border oversight, are among the areas in which the United States requires all countries to demonstrate that they meet its requirements. In addition, they are expected to provide equitable treatment to all tourists who are citizens of the United States.