Travelling to certain countries can unfortunately restrict travel to other places based of political issues. One that always springs to mind is travelling the Middle East if you have been to Israel or travelling to Azerbaijan if you’ve been to Armenia. While these ones are easy to navigate around, one place that like to throw a spanner in the works is the USA.
Currently, there is a list of 9 countries in the world, that if you have been to them, you will no longer be eligible for the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) which allows you to enter the US by just applying for an ESTA (basically a pre approval).
Who can get the ESTA?
You can currently head travel to the USA without a visa if you are from one of these countries:
- All EU member states except Bulgaria and Cyprus;
- Other European countries: Andorra, Switzerland, Norway, UK, Iceland, Liechtenstein and San Marino;
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Brunei
- Singapore
- Taiwan
- South Korea
- Japan
- Chile
- Qatar
- Israel.
If you are from one of these countries you will have to apply for the ESTA online, which is a super simple process and will set you back $21 USD. This will be valid for 2 years and allows you to enter the USA for up to 90 days each trip. Anything over this you will need to apply for a B1 or B2 visa.
Unfortunately, if you are from one of these countries and have been to a blacklist country you will not being able to apply for the ESTA and you will need to do an interview for a regular tourist visa.
If you’re Canadian, different rules apply to you so you don’t have to worry about any of this and can freely travel to the USA regardless of your past travel history.
Which Countries are Blacklisted?
The nine countries they will make you ineligible are: Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, and Cuba.
If you have been to any of these countries except Cuba since January 1, 2011 then you will need a tourist visa. For Cuba the rule only applies if you have travelled there after January 1, 2021.
What is the process for getting a USA tourist visa?
If you are just coming to the USA to visit, then you will most likely be applying for a B-2 Visa. These are granted for a period of between 5-10 years and allows you to stay in the country for a period of 6-months each time.
You will need to first go to the embassy website of the USA in your location. Here you will be able to apply and schedule your interview for the visa. You should note that interview times will not be available to see until you have paid the visa fee. As of June 2023, the B2 visa fee is $185 USD.
Allow as much time as possible to schedule your interview and look at planning a minimum of 3 months in advance. Just after COVID, wait times were up to over a year in some locations, however now many places have about a 3 week wait.
Once you have done your interview, if you are successful, you should get your passport back with a visa in about 1-3 business days.
What happens in the interview?
The interview will be straight forward. Expect them to ask why you went to these countries and be truthful. Our advice is to not hide anything from the official doing your interview. The interview will last only about 10 minutes, after which time they will inform you on the spot if you have successfully obtained the visa.
Will I be questioned when entering the USA?
Maybe yes, maybe no. This is entirely up to the immigration official when you enter. They may ask about your previous travel and why you went to these places. Our advice is have a clear answer prepared as well as your hotel and contact information during your stay ready. Immigration officials love it when people come prepared. If you are staying with a friend or family member you should also have their information ready.
It is also important to note that even though your visa allows you to stay for 6 months each entry, that this time is purely up to the immigration official and they can restrict this time on the spot if they think you are spending too much time in the country and aren’t there as a tourist.
When entering the USA they also have the power to seize your phone and go through your information. This is mainly however to see if you are planning to work there and is not a regular occurance.
If I go to more of the blacklist countries do I need to reapply for the visa?
Nope! Once you have your visa you can travel to any of the blacklist countries without having to get a new visa. It may result in a couple more questions at the border but again this will be hit or miss if it actually happens. Just be prepared and don’t try and hide anything.
I’ve been to Afghanistan, do I need a USA visa?
Nope. Afghanistan is not on the list, so if you travel there and haven’t been to the other blacklist countries then you can still apply for the ESTA.
Is it worth going through the trouble to get the visa?
We think yes! The USA is a great place to transit if you trying to get to South America, Central America or the Caribbean and having that visa can give you peace of mind and access to cheaper flights that transfer in a US hub.
On top of this, the USA is an awesome place to travel and definitely has something for everyone.
Is it worth going to the blacklist countries?
Absolutely! Some of these places despite their reputation are incredibly safe and welcoming to tourists. The best way of course is to join us on one of our group tours! To see what tours we have available check out our
website here.
If you would like to sign up to join us in a blacklist country on tour send us an email to
[email protected]
.
