As many of you know, citizens of certain countries can enter the US without a visa. They are mostly European countries and countries such as Japan, South Korea and Singapore. The idea is that these are countries from which only a small number of people stay in the US illegally. The citizens of these countries are rewarded by being able to come for 90 days without a visa. Countries where a high percentage of people try to stay in the US are not allowed to participate in the Visa Wavier program.

However, there is growing concern that terrorists, like the ones in France, might use the Visa Waiver program to enter the US. Therefore, a recent bill has added new restrictions. People who are from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or Yemen will not be allowed to use the Visa Waiver program, even if they are also a citizen of one of the Visa Wavier countries. More significantly, if a person even visits one of those countries, then that person will not be allowed to use the Visa Waiver program. That person may still be able to enter the US, but they will be required to get a visa.

The reason I am bringing this up is that you or your spouse could be a person who often enters the US on the visa waiver program, but you believe G*d is calling you to visit one of those countries. You or your spouse will still be able to apply for a visa to come to the US, but you will not be able to continue to come on the Visa Waiver program. This means that it could take longer and be more difficult to enter the United States after taking a trip to one of those countries.

I hope that all makes sense. It gets complicated. Remember, it is not stating that people will be forbidden to enter the US. It just means that it will not be as simple for some people.

Gunnar