Poland became the 39th country to be added to the visa waiver program on November 11, 2019 – the same day as the country’s national independence anniversary. Poland is added after a 5-year halt on new visa waiver additions since Chile joined in 2014.
Polish nationals will be eligible to apply for visa waiver using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization — more commonly referred to as ESTA — enabling them to visit the U.S. for 90 days without a visa. ETSA currently costs $14 for two years. Note that a person may not travel to the U.S. on visa waiver without receiving ESTA authorization from FBP prior to boarding. Applications are made through a website and often, applicants are notified of their status within seconds of submission. Note that ESTA authorization is not a determination of visa eligibility and upon arrival to the U.S., each traveler is subject to inspection and a determination of legal admissibility.
“The inclusion of Poland into the Visa Waiver Program is a testament to the special relationship that exists between our two countries, and the ongoing friendship and close cooperation on our joint security priorities,” the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin McAleenan said in a statement. “We look forward to continuing to work with the Polish government as we deepen our security cooperation as well as make travel easier for our citizens.”
Polish citizens who wish to travel in the U.S. for longer than 90 days will need to apply for the appropriate category of visa – work visa or study visa, etc. This update adds Poland to the European Union’s visa-free travel list.
For assistance with any travel visas, please contact one of our four offices at www.immattyllp.com
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