Citizens of the following countries and Canada (under NAFTA agreement with the U.S.) do not require a visa to enter the U.S. as a visitor or business traveler if the person has not violated the terms of any past nonimmigrant visa (overstaying, etc.), would like to visit United States 90 days or less for business or tourism, and has a passport that meets the applicable requirements.

The Visa Waiver Program eliminates unnecessary barriers to travel to the U.S., promotes the tourism industry, and allows Department of State to concentrate and focus on high-risk areas.

The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 incorporated the pilot program of the Visa Waiver Program into the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Of course, those who qualify under the Visa Waiver Program can still apply for a regular visa if they wish to.

Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda do not participate in the Visa Waiver Program. There are other rules that govern the visa-free travel of some citizens of those countries.

The countries are chosen based on how many of their applicants are refused U.S. visitor visas annually - the lower the refusal rate, the more the U.S. can presume the country's applicants really intend to comply with the terms of their visa or entry. Countries are added or removed all the time as the situations change. The countries on the visa waiver list program have agreements with the United States that allow easy travel back and forth. U.S. citizens also can travel visa-free to those countries, as long as the purpose and duration of travel is similar to what is allowed under the Visa Waiver Program.

The Department of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Department of State, evaluates the effect of a particular country's participation in the Visa Waiver Program based on law enforcement and security interests of the United States.

Argentina and Uruguay were dropped from participation in the Visa Waiver Program.