UNITED STATES: Citizens of Qatar will be eligible for visa-free travel to the United States no later than December 1, 2024

By: Justin Kadich, Senior Immigration Attorney at Go Global Immigration, PLLC, an affiliate law firm of CIBT Newland Chase.

In a joint statement this week, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of State (DOS) announced that Qatar has been added to the list of designated Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries. No later than December 2024, Qatari citizens will be permitted to apply for visa-free travel to the United States for tourism or business purposes for up to ninety (90) days.

In order to be approved for visa-free travel to the United States and not require a U.S. visa, applicants must submit their applications using the online application system, Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) which can be secured with CIBTvisas. Typically, ESTA approvals are valid for two years and eligible for renewals.

U.S. companies and other international companies employing Qataris who travel on business to the United States will certainly benefit from this development. Most applicants receive their ESTA decisions instantly (although it is recommended to apply at least 72 hours before scheduled travel) rather than the longer time it takes to secure a visa.