[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 21, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9699-9700]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-4090]
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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
[INS No. 1674-94]
RIN 1115-AB93
Extension of the Visa Waiver Pilot Program
AGENCY: Immigration and Naturalization Service, Justice.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the extension of the Visa Waiver Pilot
Program (VWPP) until September 30, 1996. Nationals of those countries
eligible for participation under the VWPP, may continue to apply for
admission to the United States for ninety (90) days or less, as
nonimmigrant visitors for business or pleasure, without first obtaining
a nonimmigrant visa. This notice also notifies those carriers who have
entered into agreements with the Immigration and Naturalization Service
(Service) under the provisions of the Visa Waiver Pilot Program, that
the agreements will continue in effect until September 30, 1996. These
actions will facilitate travel for both the public and United States
businesses.
EFFECTIVE DATES: This extension of the Visa Waiver Pilot Program is
effective on October 25, 1994, and will remain in effect until
September 30, 1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ronald J. Hays, Assistant Chief Inspector, Immigration and
naturalization Service, Room 7228, 425 I Street, NW., Washington, DC
20536, telephone (202) 514-0912.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Section 313 of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986
(IRCA), Public Law 99-603, dated November 6, 1986, added section 217 to
the Immigration and Nationality Act (ACT which established the
nonimmigrant Visa Waiver Pilot Program. Section 313 of IRCA initially
provided for the designation of eight (8) countries to participate in
the Visa Waiver Pilot Program. Accordingly, the Service designated by
regulations published in the Federal Register, the following eight (8)
countries to participate in the VWPP:
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Country Effective date Federal Register Citation
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1. United Kingdom....................... July 1, 1988................ 53 FR 24901, June 30, 1988.
2. Japan................................ Dec. 15, 1988............... 53 FR 50161, Dec. 13, 1988.
3. France............................... July 1, 1989................ 54 FR 27120, June 27, 1988.
4. Switzerland.......................... July 1, 1989................ 54 FR 27120, June 27, 1989.
5. Germany.............................. July 15, 1989............... 54 FR 27120, June 27, 1989.
6. Sweden............................... July 15, 1989............... 54 FR 27120, June 27, 1989.
7. Italy................................ July 29, 1989............... 54 FR 27120, June 27, 1989.
8. Netherlands.......................... July 29, 1989............... 54 FR 27120, June 27, 1989.
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Section 201 of the Immigration Act of 1990, (IMMACT 90), Public Law
101-649, dated November 29, 1990, further amended the Visa Waiver Pilot
Program by removing the eight country cap and extending the provisions
to all countries that met the qualifying provisions contained in
section 217 of the Act. In addition, section 201 of IMMACT 90 also
extended the period for the VWPP until September 30, 1994.
Subsequently, the Service designated the following fourteen (14)
additional countries by regulations published in the Federal Register,
to participate in the VWPP:
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Country Effective date Federal Register Ciation
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1. Andorra............................. Oct. 1, 1991................ 56 FR 46716, Sept. 13, 1991.
2. Austria............................. Oct. 1, 1991................ 56 FR 46716, Sept. 13, 1991.
3. Belgium............................. Oct. 1, 1991................ 56 FR 46716, Sept. 13, 1991.
4. Denmark............................. Oct. 1, 1991................ 56 FR 46716, Sept. 13, 1991.
5. Finland............................. Oct. 1, 1991................ 56 FR 46716, Sept. 13, 1991.
6. Iceland............................. Oct. 1, 1991................ 56 FR 46716, Sept. 13, 1991.
7. Liechtenstein....................... Oct. 1, 1991................ 56 FR 46716, Sept. 13, 1991.
8. Luxembourg.......................... Oct. 1, 1991................ 56 FR 46716, Sept. 13, 1991.
9. Monaco.............................. Oct. 1, 1991................ 56 FR 46716, Sept. 13, 1991.
10. New Zealand......................... Oct. 1, 1991................ 56 FR 46716, Sept. 13, 1991.
11. Norway.............................. Oct. 1, 1991................ 56 FR 46716, Sept. 13, 1991.
12. San Marino.......................... Oct. 1, 1991................ 56 FR 46716, Sept. 13, 1991.
13. Spain............................... Oct. 1, 1991................ 56 FR 46716, Sept. 13, 1991.
14. Brunei.............................. July 29, 1993............... 58 FR 40581, July 29, 1993.
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Extension of the Visa Waiver Pilot Program
On September 27, 1994, the Assistant Commissioner, Office of
Inspections, issued a memorandum to those carriers who signed a VWPP
agreement with the Service, that during the month of October 1994, the
Service would not fine carriers under section 273 of the Act for
transporting to the Untied States, visitors without nonimmigrant
visitor visas, who would otherwise be eligible for admission to the
United States under the Visa Waiver Pilot Program. This action was
necessary to accommodate the travelling public who made plans to visit
the United States and who were not aware that the Visa Waiver Pilot
Program would expire on September 30, 1994 unless the program was
extended by Congress.
Subsequently, the Immigration and Nationality Technical Corrections
Act of 1994, October 25, 1994 extended the expiration date of the Visa
Waiver Pilot Program until September 30, 1996.
Therefore, unless designation is otherwise withdrawn sooner,
nationals of those countries eligible for participation under the VWPP
may continue to apply for admission to the United States for ninety
(90) days or [[Page 9700]] less, as nonimmigrant visitors for business
or pleasure, without first obtaining a nonimmigrant visa. In addition,
the agreements with the Service, which carriers have entered into under
the provisions of the Visa Waiver Pilot Program, will remain in Effect
until September 30, 1996.
Dated: January 30, 1995.
Doris Meissner,
Commissioner, Immigration and Naturalization Service.
[FR Doc. 95-4090 Filed 2-17-95; 8:45 am]
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