[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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