The United States is phasing out its requirement for visitors to manually complete the green CBP Form I-94W paper arrival/departure document. This applies to air or sea travelers who are citizens of countries included in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), and who have received prior travel authorization via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).
The I-94W forms will continue to be required at land borders; in case of system outages; and when deemed operationally necessary. Also, the I-94 white paper document, for citizens from non-Visa Waiver Program countries remains in effect for the foreseeable future.
Congresswoman Bordallo announced yesterday that the legislative hearing on the bill H.R. 3770 that was scheduled to take place on October 22, 2009 was postponed “until a later date”. The bill, originally sponsored by Bordallo, called for a one-year delay of full application of U.S. immigration laws in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). The postponement came in light of the ruling by DHS that Russian and Chinese tourists will be allowed visa-free into the CNMI after November 28, 2009. The visitors will enter under the “parole” authority of the Secretary of Homeland Security and will be able to stay in the Northern Marianas up to 45 days. Thus, the new Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program that is scheduled to go in effect on November 28, 2009 is not likely to be delayed.
The United States is phasing out its requirement for visitors to manually complete the green CBP Form I-94W paper arrival/departure document. This applies to air or sea travelers who are citizens of countries included in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), and who have received prior travel authorization via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).