Which countries do not need a visa to enter the United States: there is one in South America

In recent years, United States immigration policies have undergone significant changes, especially under the administration of Donald Trump. Since his first term, Trump implemented a series of measures aimed at restricting immigration and strengthening border security. These policies included the construction of a wall on the border with Mexico, the implementation of the “Stay in Mexico” policy and the elimination of birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants.

In his second term, Trump has continued this trend, signing new executive orders that seek to further tighten immigration rules. It is worth understanding how these policies affect citizens of other countries, especially those who wish to travel to the United States without needing a visa.

(Also read: Countries that do not ask Colombians for a visa in 2025: only the digital ID is required)

Countries that can enter the United States without a visa

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows citizens of certain countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for a period of up to 90 days without needing to obtain a visa. However, they must obtain authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) before their trip. This is the list of territories:

1. Andorra
2. Australia
3. Austria
4. Belgium
5. Brunei
6. Chile
7. Croatia
8. Czech Republic
9. Denmark
10. Estonia
11. Finland
12. France
13. Germany
14. Greece
15. Hungary
16. Iceland
17. Ireland
18. Israel
19. Italia
20. Japan
21. South Korea
22. Latvia
23. Liechtenstein
24. Lithuania
25. Luxembourg
26. Malta
27. Monaco
28. Netherlands
29. New Zealand
30. Norway
31. Poland
32. Portugal
33. Qatar
34. Rumania
35. San Marino
36. Singapore
37. Slovakia
38. Slovenia
39. Spain
40. Sweden
41. Swiss
42. Taiwan
43. United Kingdom

“Participation in the VWP requires countries to increase cooperation with the United States on counterterrorism, law enforcement and immigration control. This cooperation, which is often accompanied by significant improvements to countries’ capabilities, systems, and processes to meet program requirements, results in significant security improvements for both the United States and the VWP participating country. DHS’s approach incorporates periodic national risk assessments regarding the impact of each program country’s participation in the VWP on the national security and law enforcement interests of the United States, including enforcement interests. of immigration,” the United States Department of Homeland Security explained on its website.

He added: “Individuals eligible to use the VWP for travel to the United States are thoroughly vetted prior to their departure to the United States, upon arrival at U.S. ports of entry, and during any subsequent air travel within the United States. . “DHS continually strengthens the VWP to improve both the security and prosperity of the American people.”

(Read also: Do ​​you want to speed up your American visa interview? See the relief that the embassy gives to your appointment)

The only country in Latin America that can enter the United States without a visa

Chile is the only country in Latin America that currently participates in the United States Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Argentina and Uruguay were, at the time, part of the program, but both countries were withdrawn from it.

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Argentina was excluded from the VWP in 2002 due to the economic crisis that the country was going through at that time, which led to an increase in the number of Argentines overstaying their permitted stay in the United States.

Uruguay, for its part, was withdrawn from the VWP in 2003. Like Argentina, the decision was based on concerns about compliance with the program’s requirements, including the increase in the number of Uruguayans remaining in the United States beyond the permitted period.

However, Uruguay would be on track to become the next Latin American country to be included in the VWP. Recently, the Uruguayan embassy in the United States announced that Uruguay has met one of the most important requirements for visa exemption: keeping the rejection rate of visa applications below 3%. According to the statement, Uruguay’s non-immigrant visa rejection rate is 2.63%, placing the country in a favorable position to be admitted to the program.