Israel is joining the exclusive US Visa Waiver program, making it the 41st nation to do so!
By Nosson Shulman: Licensed Tour Guide of VIP Israel Tours & Authentic Virtual Tours (click here to check out his free trailer videos)
Photo Credit: U.S. Embassy Jerusalem – _DSC0557 – CC BY 2.0
Beginning November 30, Israelis will be able to enter the US with an Israeli passport, which will significantly strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries. Without a visa, Israeli tourists and business travelers will be permitted to enter the US for up to 90 days (this does not apply to individuals who wish to stay longer for study or employment). Currently, Israeli citizens who want to travel to the US must first show up in person, stand in enormous lines, pay $140, and then wait weeks or even months for their tourist visa—which is good for up to 10 years—to arrive. Israelis will now simply need to complete a brief electronic application called the ESTA, pay $21, and receive approval within 72 hours (though it is anticipated that this will really happen within hours of applying).
This historic decision has significant economic ramifications. At the moment, 450,000 Israelis travel to the US annually. That number is now expected to grow immediately (and exponentially), creating new business opportunities for citizens of both countries. For instance, an Israeli CEO who has to arrange a last-minute meeting with the board of directors or colleagues in the US won’t have to wait months for a visa. It is also anticipated to generate a significant amount of employment opportunities, enable the profitable opening of additional direct routes to popular US locations both old and new, as well as facilitate the entry of new airlines into the routes. In fact, El Al has just revealed that it will soon increase the number of daily flights on the JFK/Newark-Tel Aviv route to up to six.
Countries which already allow Israelis to enter without a visa include Canada, the European Union countries, Switzerland, United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, Singapore, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Mexico, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, South Africa and Thailand.
Israeli Prime Ministers have worked hard for years to be accepted into the program, thus its acceptance marks a significant victory for Prime Minister Netanyahu and his coalition.
Disclaimer:
The author of this article is not an attorney, and this article should not be construed as legal advice or an authoritative source. This article is for informational purposes only and should never be relied upon. The author takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of this article.
Nosson Shulman is a journalist and Licensed Tour Guide in Israel specializing in Biblical tours. To allow tourists to experience Israel during the Corona era, he created the new hit Israel tour video series which brings Israel to the home of viewers by simulating actual tours. To check out his free sneak preview tour videos, click here. To view sample tour itineraries or to inquire about private tour opportunities with a personalized itinerary on your next trip to Israel, click here.
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