Cooling the excitement: Contrary to the State Department's position that Israel will officially join the visa exemption club, a spokesman for the US Embassy in Israel cooled the enthusiasm and issued a statement on Tuesday: "The Secretary of Homeland Security together with the Secretary of State will make a decision on the visa exemption issue in the coming days."
"The process of joining the exemption program is not yet complete. The Foreign Ministry's announcement on the matter was premature," the embassy spokesman said.
Now it's official: US visa exemption as early as November // Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Foreign Ministry reported that this coming Thursday, the United States is expected to approve the decision to allow Israeli tourists to enter the United States without the obligation to issue a visa. As it currently stands, the date is not yet final.
U.S. Visa Waiver: Everything You Haven't Been Told
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.
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