INS Advises on Visa Waiver Pilot Program Contingency Plan

1. If there is no congressional action before September 30, 1994 to extend the Visa Waiver Pilot Program (VWPP) or to make it permanent, the program, which permits nationals of certain designated countries to visit the United States without first obtaining nonimmigrant visitor's visas at American Consulates, will expire on September 30, 1994. The Immigration and Naturalization Service must be ready to deal with the great number of travelers who had planned to arrive without visas in October.

2. At present, over 50% of nonimmigrant visitors to the United States apply for admission under the VWPP. As a result, if the program is not extended or made permanent by September 30, many carriers may nevertheless transport travelers to the United States without visas.

3. If necessary, the Immigration and Naturalization Service will make every effort to facilitate the entry of those visitors who apply for the would have been found eligible for the VWPP during a 30-day period beginning October 01 and ending at 00:01 (E.S.T.) November 01, 1994 by:

Admitting for 3 months as nonimmigrant visitors for business or pleasure (B1 or B2) all VWPP applicants who would have been qualified VWPP applicants (if the program had been continued) with a waiver of the nonimmigrant visa under section 212(d)(4) without processing on Form I-193 and with a waiver of the requisite $95 fee for Form I-193.

4. This will be done because:

A. The Department of State will not be able to meet the public demand for visitor visas without additional time to add staff and other resources.

B. Hundreds and thousands of international travelers for business and pleasure that currently have itineraries that include a trip to the United States would be unable to travel.

C. The economic impact on the travel and tourism industry of the United States would be devastating.

5. During the 30-day grace period, the participating VWPP transportation line will not incur any fines under section 273 of the Immigration and Nationality Act for transporting persons who would otherwise have been admissible under the VWPP.

6. The Office of Inspections will provide further admission procedures and codes shortly.

Doris Meissner

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