On July 19, 2023, the United States and Israel signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), the first step in Israel’s potential admission to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program. This monumental decision comes from years of Israel’s interest despite U.S. concerns over their eligibility.
Following the MOU, Israel launched a pilot program on July 20, 2023, as a part of its review period which is expected to last four to six weeks. Under the pilot program, Palestinian Americans from the West Bank, Iranian Americans and other Arab Americans are permitted to enter Israel for 90 days without background checks.
Palestinian Americans residing in the West Bank will be required to use an app to receive an entry permit. Previously, West Bank Palestinian Americans were required to first travel to Jordan before being permitted to enter occupied territory.
The U.S. will decide whether or not to admit Israel into the waiver program at the conclusion of the review period.
The U.S. Visa Waiver Program
The United States’ Visa Waiver Program (VWP) is overseen by the Department of Homeland Security. The program permits citizens of eligible countries to travel to the country for 90 days without a visa.
Likewise, the eligible countries must extend similar measures to U.S. citizens and nationals–allowing them to travel without a visa for business or tourism purposes for similar time durations.
Currently, 40 countries are participating in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program.
Consult a California Immigration Lawyer Today
The pilot program is a major step towards Israel’s official admission into the VWP. This can have a huge impact on Israeli immigrants seeking entry into the United States. As always, with changes in immigration legislation like these, it is important to abide by the latest regulations to ensure you do not put your status in jeopardy.
The VWP is complex and may or may not be the right option for you. This is why you should consult an immigration lawyer before making any decisions.
Reeves Immigration Law Group has over four decades of experience in providing immigrants and their families with personalized approaches to meet their needs while abiding by the latest regulations. To hear how our California immigration lawyers can help you, fill out our contact form today.
