Both governments of the United States and Argentina have confirmed that initial steps and agreements have been struck between them to allow travellers from Argentina to once again enter US territories without needing visas in the future.
This is a move seen by many as among the many fruits of the ideological brotherhood ties of US President Donald Trump and Argentine counterpart, Javier Milei.
Potential visa-free travel for Argentines bound for US
News of Argentina’s possible inclusion in the visa waiver program (VWP) of the US arose after US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited the South American nation and confirmed meeting Milei and members of his Cabinet to spearhead a signing ceremony that would jumpstart Argentina’s application to the VWP.
Noem said that Washington continuously recognises the efforts of the Milei administration in curbing its local security policies while working with the US in maintaining regional stability in terms of economy, trade, diplomacy and tourism.
She said that Argentina, having the second biggest economy in South America, has risen as an “even stronger friend” that mutually values the importance of safety, convenience and legal travel of its citizens entering US territories.
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What is VWP and how does it work?
The VWP, or visa waiver program, is a list of countries that have been granted exemption from requiring their citizens to have visas upon their entry to US territories.
The program currently has 42 “VWP-designated countries,” the majority of which are from Europe, and only one from the Latin American region, which is Chile.
Argentina seeks to be the second by returning to the VWP after losing its place in the program more than two decades ago.
According to the official website of the US Bureau of Consular Affairs, there are at least five criteria for a nation to adhere to in order to gain a spot in the VWP.
These include enhanced law enforcement and security-related data sharing with the US, nations issuing e-passports, having a visitor visa refusal of less than three per cent, timely reporting of both blank and issued lost and stolen passports, and maintenance of high counterterrorism, law enforcement, border control, and document security standards.
In Argentina’s case, both US and Argentine officials have admitted that it would take between two and three more years for the South American nation to be a part of the VWP.
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No additional fees for VWP member states
Argentina is also seeking to be spared from the recently announced “visa integrity fee” of the US government, albeit such a decision would already be implemented in 2025.
According to the domestic policy bill of the Trump administration, the fee would be an added cost on the already lucrative US visa fees for passport holders whose nations do not belong to the VWP.
The US government said that the visa integrity fee would cost USD250 per traveller, a move tourism experts fear would further drive away foreign guests from visiting the US.
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