Israelis can now travel to the United States for up to 90 days without a visa, the Biden administration announced Thursday, accelerating a travel benefit that was previously scheduled to take effect on November 30.
The accelerated timeframe means that eligible Israelis seeking to flee the Israeli-Hamas war will be able to come to the United States sooner than expected without having to go through the typical visa application process, which can delay travel.
Last month, the Departments of Homeland Security and State announced that Israel would be added to the Visa Waiver Program, an agreement between the United States and 40 other countries that allows citizens to travel without the hassle of obtaining a visa. At the time, the Biden administration set a November 30 deadline for Israelis to begin applying online for the new programme.
To participate, countries must share passenger information more quickly, including providing names on passenger manifests.
To be eligible, Israeli citizens must have a biometric passport. And they must commit to staying no longer than 90 days. There is a $21 fee for the application.
Israel’s inclusion in the programme has been a decade-long process. Some prominent groups have objected to Israel’s inclusion in the programme out of concern that the Israeli government would not treat Palestinian Americans equally.
