As peak tourist season begins, the international edition of Cronista published a 19 June explainer on the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP), underscoring that citizens of 23 countries—including Australia, Japan, Israel and most of Western Europe—may enter the United States for up to 90 days without a traditional visa if they hold an approved Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). The article follows a spike in ESTA denials triggered by travellers who previously overstayed during the 2025 World Cup test events. Although the piece contains no regulatory change, it serves as a timely compliance reminder for corporate travel managers coordinating short-notice visits from overseas colleagues. Mobility teams should verify that travellers have at least six months’ validity on e-passports and have not visited Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria or regions of Ukraine after 2011—criteria that trigger ineligibility under the VWP Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act. ESTA processing times remain under 30 minutes for most applicants, but CBP recommends applying at least 72 hours before departure. Companies should also note that ESTA approvals now cost US$35 following the fee hike that took effect in May.
Source: Cronista US
