A great clarity has emerged regarding the provision of visa-free entry to the United States for Israeli citizens for a period of up to 90 days.
Main provisions:
· An Israeli must have a ten-year biometric* passport (darkon);
· The visa-free regime will not come into effect tomorrow, it will take about two months to develop the instructions;
· If an Israeli citizen already has a visa in a current non-biometric passport, there is no need to rush to change it to a biometric one, the visa will remain valid until the end of the visa’s term and provided the passport is still valid;
· To obtain permission for visa-free tourist visits to the USA, Israelis – holders of 10-year darkons, must fill out ESTA – an electronic entry authorization form. The application is filled out online in advance, at least 3 days before the planned visit. The authorization will be valid for 2 years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.
Having the authorization does not guarantee entry into the country, the final decision always remains with the border control officers.
Not all Israeli citizens who have a 10-year darkon will be eligible for ESTA:
The form includes questions, affirmative answers to which will not allow obtaining the electronic authorization and will require applying for a visa at the consulate, for example:
· Have you ever been arrested or convicted of a crime that resulted in serious property damage or serious harm to another person or a government authority?
· Have you ever been denied a visa or entry into the United States, or been asked to leave the country?
· The applicant must also indicate whether they have any citizenship other than Israeli. The United States does not provide ESTA to those who have citizenship of Iraq, Iran, Somalia, Syria, Sudan, North Korea, Libya, or Yemen.
Those who have visited these countries, as well as those who have the right to visa-free entry into Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria, may also be denied authorization.
After the regulatory instruction is approved, additional clarifications will appear. We will report as more information becomes available.