ASTA applauds the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for responding to an ASTA suggestion, supported by a variety of travel industry associations, to disseminate a clear, visual explanation of the various Visa Waiver Program (VWP) deadlines. The Visa Waiver Program Timeline, in PDF format, describes guidelines for foreign travelers to the United States in terms of needed documentation in 2005 and 2006.

The United States is eager to welcome visitors to this country, and the more understandable the requirements, the more likely they are to visit, said Kathryn W. Sudeikis, CTC, ASTA president and CEO. ASTA welcomes the easy-to-read approach that DHS has taken, and we commend the agency for responding quickly to industry recommendations to produce this kind of information.

DHS plans to translate the Visa Waiver Timeline into the relevant VWP country languages and disseminate it through the Department of State to U.S. embassies and consulates in VWP countries, as well as VWP embassies located in the United States.

The 27 countries that participate in the Visa Waiver Program include: Andorra, Iceland, Norway, Australia, Ireland, Portugal, Austria, Italy, San Marino, Belgium, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, Liechtenstein, Slovenia, Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Finland, Monaco, Sweden, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.