Washington:
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that eligible Israeli citizens and nationals can now travel to the United States for up to 90 days without the need for a visa, DailyExpertNews reported.
This update accelerates the implementation of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) for Israeli travelers, which was initially scheduled to begin on November 30.
Last month, the Biden administration confirmed Israel’s inclusion in the VWP, which allows qualified travelers to enter the US without a visa. However, the latest announcement states that the US is now accepting applications ahead of schedule, according to DailyExpertNews.
To take advantage of this opportunity, eligible travelers must apply for authorization online through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). To qualify, travelers must have a biometric passport and plan to stay in the US for no more than 90 days.
It’s worth noting that travelers with “non-biometric, temporary, or emergency travel documents, or travel documents from a country not covered by the Visa Waiver Program” are not eligible and must instead apply for a U.S. visa, according to DHS guidelines.
The DHS has stated: “Visa travel may still be the best option for some travelers, such as those who plan to stay in the United States for more than 90 days or anticipate the need to extend their stay or change their status to change once they are in the United States. United States.”
Although the application is currently only available in English, DHS plans to offer it in other languages by November 1, DailyExpertNews reported.
As the raging war between Israel and Hamas enters its fourteenth day, the US has made clear that aid in Gaza must reach civilians and not Gaza, adding that it will monitor “very carefully” how aid is delivered in the region , according to the US Department of State. State spokesman Matthew Miller said this on Thursday (local time).
While addressing a news conference, Miller said the Israeli government is concerned that aid going to Gaza will be diverted because there is no Israeli military force and United Nations peacekeeping force in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Defense Ministry said Friday that a cargo plane landed at Ramon Airport in southern Israel this morning, carrying military ambulances and medical equipment for the Israeli army, The Times of Israel reported.
The ministry said this is the 45th aircraft carrying equipment for the IDF to arrive in Israel since the war began on October 7. So far, some 1,000 tons of weapons have arrived in Israel, which are “intended to support the IDF’s offensive plans,” the ministry said. The Times of Israel reported citing the ministry’s statement.
The Biden administration is poised to request $105 billion in funding from Congress on Friday to deliver aid and resources to Ukraine and Israel as both countries are embroiled in domestic wars, according to DailyExpertNews.
The request includes $14 billion to Israel, which officials said mirrors requests Biden received during his trip to Israel on Wednesday.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
