Argentina Eliminated from Visa Waiver Program
Posted Mar 02, 2002

February 20, 2002, on an emergency basis, the U.S. Department of Justice removed Argentina from the Visa Waiver Program. The reason for termination is the severe economic problems in Argentina that make continued participation in the Visa Waiver Program "no longer compatible with the enforcement of immigration laws in the United States."

The visa waiver program allows persons from designated countries to enter the U.S. for up to 90 days as visitors without having to obtain visas. The program is designed to promote and facilitate tourism from countries with few instances of immigration violations such as overstaying the allowed period of admission to the U.S.

The visa waiver program makes travel to the U.S. easier for persons from 28 countries. These countries are: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The United Kingdom, and Uruguay. The terms of the program are quite strict. Once in the U.S., the 90-day period cannot be extended. There are no changes in non-immigrant (temporary) status permitted. Adjustment of status to permanent residence is allowed only if it is based upon a petition as the immediate relative (spouse, parent, or child) of a U.S. citizen.

Argentina was eliminated from the list because of an increase in Argentinean nationals who have remained in the U.S. after the permitted 90 day stay. Argentina's high unemployment rate, devaluation of its currency, and economic collapse have prompted more Argentinean nationals to violate U.S. immigration laws in their efforts to escape these economic problems. Furthermore, some Argentineans were using the visa waiver program as a way to enter Canada in order to pursue asylum claims. According to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), the Canadian version of the INS, in the past two years more than 2,500 Argentineans have gained access to Canada in this manner.

Argentineans are still permitted to travel to the U.S., subject to the same application and review procedures followed by most other foreign nationals. For example, the B-2 visa for tourism purposes shows a visitor's intent to return to her/his country after the temporary visit. Those Argentineans now present in the U.S. under the waiver program may remain for the duration of their authorized 90-day periods.