What can cause ineligibility for the VW-Program?

Not all citizens of VWP countries are eligible for visa-free travel to the US. The following groups do not qualify for visa-free travel:

-         people who intend to work in the US

-         people who intend to do an internship, attend school or university or work as an au pair in the US

-         people who have been refused admission into the US before

-         people who have been deported from the US within the past five years

-         people with a criminal record

-         people who have a communicable disease or a mental disorder

-         people who are drug addicts

-         people who have participated in the persecution of any person under the Nazi regime

-         members of terrorist organizations

-         people holding a blue German passport/travel document

If one of the above applies to you, you will have to apply for a visa before entering the US. We would like to point out that especially for people with a criminal record, chances of obtaining a visa for the US are slim. This does not only apply to grave criminal offences like assault or robbery. Also offences like low grade fraud or larceny can lead to a visa denial.