Visas for the USA

[pitstopbunny]

What are the laws on visas now into the USA, for a holiday from the UK

[dzug]

Start of with the assumption you need a visa.

For many people the visa waiver scheme applies - you have to be the right nationality, have no criminal record, no serious illness, a passport that is either machine readable or has a chip in it (depending on the date it was issued), be visiting for less than 90 days and have a ticket home or at least out of North America and be travelling on an approved airline/cruise ship.

You can read all about it here
http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/ without_1990.html#2
and get horribly confused in the process.

[Dee Sa]

I dont mean to be rude, but how many times do we get asked this same question ?

[pitstopbunny]

Sorry to be repetitive, I wasn't asking for me, just for a friend who is going there, sorry you took offense!

[Dee Sa]

pitstopbunny, didnt mean to offend you either.
If you look back on older postings you will find lots of advice and lots of conflicting views as this question does come up alot.
Basically you can go and use the waiver they give you to fill in on the plane and just forget about any minor offences they may have but if its a serious offence you have to go for any interview which can take up to 3 months.