The United States government stated the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), allowing some nationalities to enjoy visa exemption. According to this program, some citizens of more than 30 countries, including Taiwan, can enter the USA even without a visa.
That being said, there are still some entry requirements travelers must fulfill. Even though Taiwan passport holders enjoy the visa exemption, they still require a travel document. Keep on reading to find out how Taiwanese citizens can enter the United States of America!
US ESTA for Taiwanese Citizens
According to the Visa Waiver Program, a Taiwan passport holder can enter the country visa-free as long as he/she has an ESTA - an Electronic System for Travel Authorization. An ESTA is the same as an e-visa. You can apply for it online and use it as a travel document.
The best thing about an ESTA is that it is a completely streamlined process. This means you don’t have to visit the US embassy. You can get this travel document from the comfort of your home. It is a multiple-entry document that comes with a validity period of 2 years.
An ESTA can be used to travel to the US for tourism, business, medical, and transit purposes. It allows an applicant to stay in the country for 90 days per entry.
ESTA Requirements
There are some requirements that applicants must fulfill to get an ESTA. First of all, if a Taiwanese citizen has a criminal history, he/she won’t be able to get an ESTA to ensure border protection. Fortunately, you only need a handful of documents to get your ESTA. These documents include:
A valid passport
An email address
A debit or credit card
The US government requires passport validity of no less than 6 months. In addition, you must have at least two blank pages on your passport. You might have to provide some additional documents depending on your purpose of stay!
How to Apply Online for an ESTA?
ESTA is becoming more and more popular because of the convenience it offers. Applying for an ESTA is a straightforward process. You don’t need to visit the US embassy, follow complicated steps, or even schedule a visa interview.
Instead, all you need to do is follow 3 simple steps:
Fill out the ESTA application form
Pay the visa fee
Submit your application
To fill out your application form, you'll need to provide personal details, contact information, and passport details, including passport number and expiration date.
Processing Time
The processing time for an ESTA is different for different applicants. On average, a Taiwan national can get an ESTA within 3-4 working days. However, due to secondary checks and high demand, you might have to wait a little longer. Once approved, applicants will get the ESTA via email.
US Visa Options for Taiwanese
If for some reason, you are not eligible for an ESTA, you don’t have to give up. In that scenario, you are required to apply for a traditional visa. Unlike an ESTA, you must visit the US embassy to apply for a valid visa. There are some visa requirements that you'll have to fulfill, depending on the visa category you select. You can check out the US Bureau of Consular Affairs website to get all the visa information.
For tourism and business purposes, the US offers the following two types of non-immigrant visas:
B-1 Visa
If you want to enter the United States of America for business purposes, you are required to get a B-1 visa. A b-1 visa is especially for professional and commercial activities. You can get this visa to:
Attend a business meeting
Meet with business associates
Enroll in a training program
The B-1 visa allows an applicant to stay in the US for 180 days. It is a multiple-entry visa that comes with a validity period of 10 years.
B-2 Visa
Alternatively, if you want to visit the United States of America for tourism, you can apply for a B-2 Visa. The USA offers B-2 visas for:
Tourism
Visiting relatives or friends
Vacations
Medical emergencies
Just like the B-1 visa, the B-2 visa is also a multiple-entry travel document. It comes with a validity period of 10 years and allows visa holders to stay in the country for 180 days.
US Embassy in Taiwan
If you are applying for an ESTA, you don’t have to visit the US embassy. The entire process is streamlined and can be done all by yourself.
However, if a Taiwanese citizen wants to get a visa, he/she must visit the nearest US mission. At the embassy, you will fill out the visa application form, pay the visa fee, and submit your application. Afterward, you'll have to schedule a visa interview with a consular officer!
The US embassy Address
10, Jinhu road, Nelhu District 11461
Taipei City
Taiwan