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Chile: Preparing for Possible Revocation of US ESTA Eligibility

August 6, 2025

Chile: Preparing for Possible Revocation of US ESTA Eligibility

Country / Territory

  • United StatesUnited States

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Leonardo Carvallo Donoso

Leonardo Carvallo Donoso

Partner

Santiago, Chile

Email

[email protected]

T:+562 2 387 0500

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Stephania Bertoni Norris

Senior Associate

Miami, FL, United States

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 786 539 1751

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Kelsey Marie McGonigle

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Miami, FL, United States

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T:+1 786 539 1732

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Partner

Santiago, Chile

Email

[email protected]

T:+562 2 387 0500

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Stephania Bertoni Norris

Senior Associate

Miami, FL, United States

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 786 539 1751

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Miami, FL, United States

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Leonardo Carvallo Donoso

Partner

Santiago, Chile

Email

[email protected]

T:+562 2 387 0500

Photo of Stephania Bertoni Norris

Stephania Bertoni Norris

Senior Associate

Miami, FL, United States

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 786 539 1751

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By: Stephania Bertoni Norris, Kelsey Marie McGonigle

Chilean citizens planning to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program should be aware of recent developments that may affect entry eligibility due to evolving US immigration policies. In some instances, travelers have reported that their Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approvals were revoked without prior notice, even after confirming flights, accommodations and other travel arrangements. Travelers are encouraged to monitor their ESTA status closely and consider contingency plans when making travel preparations.

The Visa Waiver (ESTA) Program Perks and Background

The Visa Waiver (ESTA) Program grants visa-free entry to the United States to citizens of 42 designated nations. Eligible travelers may enter for business, tourism or transit for up to 90 days, provided they obtain advance authorization through ESTA and hold a valid e-passport. Travelers can apply for ESTA by completing a brief online form and paying a USD $21 fee.

To participate in the ESTA Program, countries must adhere to specific security standards and information-sharing requirements. Since receiving the ESTA designation on February 28, 2014, Chile has remained the only Latin American country with access to the program. In 2023, Chile signed an Implementation Agreement to extend its membership and enhance bilateral information-sharing protocols.

Historic Revocations

Although the United States rescinded Romania’s anticipated addition to the ESTA Program in 2025, citing the country’s failure to meet eligibility requirements amid the Trump administration’s heightened focus on immigration and border security, only two countries have ever been officially removed. The US revoked Argentina’s access in 2002 and Uruguay’s in 2003. In both cases, US officials pointed to increased visa overstays by citizens entering through ESTA.

The most recent Department of Homeland Security report, released in August 2024 and covering the 2023 fiscal year, recorded a .62% overstay rate for ESTA Program countries and a 3.2% rate for non-participant countries (excluding Canada and Mexico) for nonimmigrant visitors entering for business or pleasure via air and seaports. The report noted that 2.6% of Chileans within this category overstayed, the highest rate among all ESTA Program countries.

Planning Ahead

Due to increased scrutiny by US immigration authorities of certain nationalities—including Chileans—and recent calls by US lawmakers to remove Chile from the Visa Waiver Program, Chilean lawmakers have passed a motion urging their government to promote better awareness of compliance requirements and penalties under the ESTA Program.

In light of a growing number of ESTA revocations, travelers are advised to consider applying for a visa before planning travel to the United States. If Chile loses its membership in the ESTA Program, travelers will need, at minimum, a B-1/B-2 visa to enter the United States.

The B-1/B-2 nonimmigrant visa permits travel for business (B-1), tourism (B-2) or both. The visa is typically valid for 10 years, allowing stays of up to 180 days per entry.  Travelers should confirm the validity period on the  Departure Record, which governs the authorized length of stay. US Customs and Border Protection may issue a shorter stay than the maximum 180 days.

To apply for a B-1/B-2 visa, applicants must complete the online DS-160 form and schedule an in-person interview at the US Embassy in Santiago. The current wait time for an appointment is approximately one month, with the potential for additional delays as demand increases.

ESTA Eligibility Reminders

While ESTA remains a valid option for travel to the United States, the following factors may result in rejection:  

      • Travel to any country designated as a State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST) by the US government, including:
          • Cuba (on or after January 12, 2021)
          • Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen (on or after March 1, 2011)
      • Any criminal record (including certain arrests)
      • Providing false or misleading information on your ESTA application
      • Diagnosis of a serious communicable disease
      • Prior denial of entry to or removal from the United States
      • Previous overstay of an authorized stay in the United States

Visit the official ESTA government website for full eligibility requirements.

Need to Know More?

For questions related to the B-1/B-2 nonimmigrant visa, please contact Senior Associate Stephania Bertoni Norris at [email protected].

This blog was published on August 6 2025, and due to the circumstances, there are frequent changes. To keep up to date with all the latest updates on global immigration, please subscribe to our alerts and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. 


Chile: Preparación para la posibilidad de revocación de la elegibilidad para entrar a los EEUU con ESTA

 

Ciudadanos chilenos con planes de viajar a los Estados Unidos bajo el programa de exención de visa deben estar conscientes de novedades que puedan afectar su elegibilidad para entrar debido a la evolución de políticas de inmigración. En algunas instancias, viajeros han informado que la aprobación de su autorización de viaje del sistema electrónico (“ESTA” por sus siglas en inglés) fue revocado sin noticia previa, incluso después de confirmar vuelos, hospedajes, y otros planes de viaje. Se recomienda a los viajeros que estén atentos al estado de su ESTA y consideren planes de contingencia al hacer preparaciones de viaje.

Beneficios e Historia del Programa de Exención de Visa (ESTA)

El programa de exención de visa (ESTA) otorga entrada sin visa a los Estados Unidos para ciudadanos de 42 naciones designadas. Los viajeros elegibles pueden entrar para negocio, turismo, o tránsito por hasta 90 días, siempre que obtengan autorización previa a través del ESTA y posean un pasaporte electrónico válido.  Los viajeros pueden solicitar ESTA al completar un breve formulario en línea y pagar una tasa de USD $21.

Para participar en el programa ESTA, los países elegidos deben cumplir con estándares específicos de seguridad y requisitos de intercambio de información. Desde recibir la designación de ESTA el 28 de febrero de 2014, Chile ha sido el único país latinoamericano incluido en el programa. En 2023, Chile firmó un Acuerdo de Implementación para prolongar su membresía y aumentar protocolos bilaterales de intercambio de información.

Revocaciones históricas

Aunque los Estados Unidos anuló la incorporación prevista de Rumania al programa ESTA en 2025, alegando el incumplimiento con los requisitos de elegibilidad en medio de la intensificación del enfoque en la inmigración y la seguridad fronteriza bajo la administración de Trump, solamente dos países han sido oficialmente eliminado del programa. Los Estados Unidos revocó el acceso de Argentina en 2002 y el de Uruguay en 2003. En ambos casos, las autoridades estadounidenses señalaron un aumento en la cantidad de personas que ingresaron a través del ESTA y luego permanecieron en el país después del vencimiento de su estadía autorizada.

El informe más reciente del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional, publicado en agosto 2024 y correspondiente al año fiscal 2023, registró que .62% de las personas de países del programa ESTA permanecieron después del vencimiento de su estadía autorizado, mientras 3.2% de las personas de los países no participantes (excluyendo a Canadá y México) que ingresaban por negocios o placer por vía aérea o marítima, registraron una permanencia excesiva. El informe indicó que el 2.6% de los chilenos en esta categoría sobrepasaron la duración permitida, la tasa más alta entre todos los países del programa ESTA.

Anticipación de los próximos pasos

Debido al aumento de escrutinio por parte de los oficiales migratorios estadounidenses sobre ciertas nacionalidades—incluyendo a los chilenos—y las propuestas recientes de legisladores estadounidenses para excluir a Chile del programa de exención de visa, los legisladores chilenos aprobaron una moción que urge al gobierno a promover un mayor conocimiento de los requisitos de cumplimiento y las sanciones bajo el programa ESTA.

Considerando el crecimiento de revocaciones individuales de ESTA, se recomienda a los viajeros que consideren solicitar una visa antes de programar un viaje a los Estados Unidos. Si Chile pierde su membresía en el programa ESTA, los viajeros necesitarán, como mínimo, una visa B-1/B-2 para entrar a los Estados Unidos.

La visa de no inmigrante B-1/B-2 permite viajes de negocios (B-1), turismo (B-2), o ambos. La visa es generalmente valida por 10 años, y permite estadías de hasta 180 días por cada entrada.  Los viajeros deben confirmar el periodo de validez en el registro de salida I-94, el que controla la duración autorizada de permanencia. La oficina de Aduanas y Protección Fronteriza estadounidense puede otorgar una estadía inferior al máximo de 180 días.  

Para solicitar una visa B-1/B-2, los solicitantes tienen que completar un formulario DS-160 en línea y programar una entrevista presencial en la Embajada de los Estados Unidos en Santiago. El tiempo de espera actual para una cita es aproximadamente un mes, con la posibilidad de retrasos adicionales a medida que aumenta la demanda.

Recordatorios de elegibilidad ESTA

Mientras ESTA permanezca una opción válida para viajar a los Estados Unidos, los siguientes factores puedan resultar en un rechazo:

      • Viaje a cualquier país designado como un Estado Patrocinador del Terrorismo (SST) por el gobierno estadounidense, incluyendo:
            • Cúba (a partir del 12 de enero 2021)
            • Irán, Irak, Libia, Corea del Norte, Somalia, Sudán, Siria o Yemen (a partir del 1 de marzo de 2011)
      • Antecedentes criminales (incluyendo ciertos arrestos)
      • Proporcionar información falsa o engañosa en su solicitud ESTA
      • Diagnóstico de una enfermedad contagiosa grave
      • Denegación previa de entrada o expulsión de los Estados Unidos
      • Haber excedido anteriormente la estadía autorizada en los Estados Unidos

Visite el sitio oficial ESTA del gobierno para una lista completa de los requisitos de elegibilidad.

¿Necesitas más información?

Para preguntas relacionadas al B1/B-2 visa, se puede comunicar con Senior Associate Stephania Bertoni Norris al [email protected].

Este blog se publicó el DD de 6 de agosto de 2025, y debido a las circunstancias, hay cambios frecuentes. Para mantenerse al día con todas las ultimas actualizaciones sobre inmigración global, suscríbase a nuestras alertas y síganos en LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, e Instagram. 

Country / Territory

  • United StatesUnited States

Related contacts

Leonardo Carvallo Donoso

Leonardo Carvallo Donoso

Partner

Santiago, Chile

Email

[email protected]

T:+562 2 387 0500

Photo of Stephania Bertoni Norris

Stephania Bertoni Norris

Senior Associate

Miami, FL, United States

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 786 539 1751

generic_porthole

Kelsey Marie McGonigle

Associate

Miami, FL, United States

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 786 539 1732

Related offices

  • Miami, FL

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Related contacts

Leonardo Carvallo Donoso

Leonardo Carvallo Donoso

Partner

Santiago, Chile

Email

[email protected]

T:+562 2 387 0500

Photo of Stephania Bertoni Norris

Stephania Bertoni Norris

Senior Associate

Miami, FL, United States

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 786 539 1751

generic_porthole

Kelsey Marie McGonigle

Associate

Miami, FL, United States

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 786 539 1732

Related offices

  • Miami, FL

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Related contacts

Leonardo Carvallo Donoso

Leonardo Carvallo Donoso

Partner

Santiago, Chile

Email

[email protected]

T:+562 2 387 0500

Photo of Stephania Bertoni Norris

Stephania Bertoni Norris

Senior Associate

Miami, FL, United States

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 786 539 1751

generic_porthole

Kelsey Marie McGonigle

Associate

Miami, FL, United States

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 786 539 1732

Related offices

  • Miami, FL

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

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