If there are no surprises, this coming Thursday the United States is expected to announce the decision to allow Israeli tourists to enter the United States without the obligation to issue a visa. However, many will not be able or willing to take advantage of the upcoming benefit. Who can't and who won't want to take advantage of the exemption? All details in the article.
Now it's official: U.S. visa exemption as early as November // Department of State
Have you received a refusal in the past? Not sure you'll be eligible
Many Israelis tried to obtain a visa to the United States but were refused. The reasons for the refusal are many different and those who were refused for criminal reasons, fear that they intended to settle in the United States illegally, or similar reasons, will have to try to issue a visa again and the chances that their application to enter the United States without a visa will be refused are high.
However, if the visa was due to technical circumstances such as a bad picture, illegal filling out of a form, etc., the chances of entry to the U.S. without a visa will increase.
Still need approval
The visa exemption means you need to get another permit. This is an ESTA form which means submitting an online application that costs $21 and is valid for two years. The answer is received after up to 72 hours, when in practice, many answers are received within only a few hours. Those who wish to fly to the United States under the visa waiver will have to go through this short and inexpensive process.
Visa can still be issued
Along with the visa exemption, those who want to issue a visa will be able to do so and enjoy the benefits of entering the United States with a visa. In contrast to entry with an ESTA, which allows only three months of stay in the US and without the possibility of extension, entry with a visa allows a stay of six months in the US with the possibility of extension through an official request from the authorities.
Israelis in line to receive a visa to the United States. Archive, photo: Gideon Markowitz
In addition, the ESTA application is valid for two years only, a visa is usually valid for ten years, and beyond the possibility of staying in the country longer, it is also possible to fly spontaneously for a longer period.
Those who hold a visa to the United States will be able to continue flying with it to the United States without the need to issue an ESTA, the validity of the visa remains.
About half of Israelis will not be able to benefit from the exemption at the moment
The visa exemption will be valid only for biometric passport holders and will not apply to those holding non-biometric passports, including temporary passports. Our examination shows that a little less than half of Israelis hold non-biometric passports, which means that many will not be able to take advantage of the visa exemption until they obtain a biometric passport, a process that itself takes quite a bit of time.
Following the expected exemption, there is concern in the Population Authority about a surge in demand for biometric passports, which may cause long lines for issuing such passports.
Have you received a black stamp before? You're in trouble
Those who stay in the United States longer than permitted and receive a black stamp from the authorities there will find it difficult to enter the United States even under the visa exemption. There is still an option to try your luck and if you are not approved, you will have to try to enter the US on the second route – the old US visa route.
Appointment for issuing a visa to the United States (the subjects have no connection to the report), Photo: AP
If you are approved to enter the U.S. under the Visa Waiver (ESTA) and stay in the country longer than is allowed, you will no longer be able to enter the U.S. under the exemption. Anyone who violates the law in this regard will have to apply again for a visa to enter the United States again.
A little cheaper
If, until now, the visa process would have cost about $160 and is valid in most cases for ten years, now, as mentioned, it will be possible to slightly reduce the costs with the new process if approved. The cost to fill out the visa waiver form is $21 for two years, and if you renew every two years (optional), the cost will be $105 for ten years, a total savings of $55.
In addition, the visa waiver is expected to free up a lot of queues at the U.S. Embassy, which should make the visa application process easier. The visa exemption, when received, can save many people time and bureaucracy, but on the other hand, as stated, is not suitable for everyone, will not be given to everyone and does not constitute significant economic savings.
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