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- Immigration Services in Auckland | Fragomen
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- Fragomen in Bengaluru, India
- Fragomen in Brisbane, Australia
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- Fragomen in Kochi, India
- Fragomen in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Fragomen in Melbourne, Australia
- Fragomen in Perth, Australia
- Fragomen in Shanghai, China
- Fragomen in Singapore
- Fragomen in Sydney
Related offices
- Immigration Services in Auckland | Fragomen
- Fragomen in Beijing, China
- Fragomen in Bengaluru, India
- Fragomen in Brisbane, Australia
- Fragomen in Hong Kong
- Fragomen in Kochi, India
- Fragomen in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Fragomen in Melbourne, Australia
- Fragomen in Perth, Australia
- Fragomen in Shanghai, China
- Fragomen in Singapore
- Fragomen in Sydney
Related offices
- Immigration Services in Auckland | Fragomen
- Fragomen in Beijing, China
- Fragomen in Bengaluru, India
- Fragomen in Brisbane, Australia
- Fragomen in Hong Kong
- Fragomen in Kochi, India
- Fragomen in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Fragomen in Melbourne, Australia
- Fragomen in Perth, Australia
- Fragomen in Shanghai, China
- Fragomen in Singapore
- Fragomen in Sydney
The United States government recently announced dramatic changes to the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which allows visa free travel to the US for qualified nationals of 38 countries after making an online application using ESTA authorisation. The changes are intended to benefit the legitimate travel of the over one million passengers arriving to the US every day. The changes, implemented on January 21, 2016, affect nationals of qualifying VWP countries who are also Nationals of ‘countries of concern’ namely Iran, Iraq, Syria and Sudan as well as Nationals of VWP countries who have travelled to or been present in Iran, Iraq, Syria or Sudan after March 1, 2011.
Approximately 16,000 dual nationals with ESTA authorization have been identified and had their ESTA authorizations revoked. United States Customs and Boarder Protection (CBP) is reaching out to those whose ESTA authorizations have been revoked on the basis of dual nationality with the largest portion of people affected being Australian, French, German, Swedish and British. These individuals will need to apply for a B-1/B-2 visa at a US consulate overseas before they can travel to the US for business or tourism and are likely to face additional security checks and delays.
The VWP changes create an exemption from the bar imposed for those who travelled to a country of concern for military or diplomatic purposes on behalf of a VWP country, and authorizes the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to grant a waiver of either provision if it is determined that to do so would be in the interest of US law enforcement or national security interests. To date, 1,600 individuals affected by travelling to a country of concern since March 1, 2011, have been identified by DHS and may have their ESTA authorizations cancelled in the future.
For those who have travelled to a county of concern since March 1, 2011 but have not had their ESTA authorization officially revoked and/or been notified these people will be adjudicated for admissibility eligibility at the point of entry by CBP to determine if they qualify for an exemption based on military or diplomatic service. Those found ineligible for an exemption will have the opportunity to apply for a waiver at the Point of Entry.
Finally, the law changing the VWP allows for constant revision of the countries of concern. There are already additional countries that may be added soon. To avoid the disappointing and frustrating cancellation of a planned trip due to being found ineligible or inadmissible under the changes to the VWP please contact the Fragomen Consular Practice for Asia-Pacific Team.
Countries / Territories
- 🌐
Related offices
- Immigration Services in Auckland | Fragomen
- Fragomen in Beijing, China
- Fragomen in Bengaluru, India
- Fragomen in Brisbane, Australia
- Fragomen in Hong Kong
- Fragomen in Kochi, India
- Fragomen in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Fragomen in Melbourne, Australia
- Fragomen in Perth, Australia
- Fragomen in Shanghai, China
- Fragomen in Singapore
- Fragomen in Sydney
Related offices
- Immigration Services in Auckland | Fragomen
- Fragomen in Beijing, China
- Fragomen in Bengaluru, India
- Fragomen in Brisbane, Australia
- Fragomen in Hong Kong
- Fragomen in Kochi, India
- Fragomen in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Fragomen in Melbourne, Australia
- Fragomen in Perth, Australia
- Fragomen in Shanghai, China
- Fragomen in Singapore
- Fragomen in Sydney
Related offices
- Immigration Services in Auckland | Fragomen
- Fragomen in Beijing, China
- Fragomen in Bengaluru, India
- Fragomen in Brisbane, Australia
- Fragomen in Hong Kong
- Fragomen in Kochi, India
- Fragomen in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Fragomen in Melbourne, Australia
- Fragomen in Perth, Australia
- Fragomen in Shanghai, China
- Fragomen in Singapore
- Fragomen in Sydney
Explore more at Fragomen
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Video
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Fragomen news
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Media mentions
Partner Rick Lamanna discusses Canada’s expanded citizenship by descent rules extending eligibility to potentially millions of people worldwide with only distant ancestral ties.
Awards
Fragomen is recognised in Ibec’s Top 100 Companies Leading in Wellbeing Index 2026, highlighting its commitment to employee wellbeing and a supportive workplace culture.
Media mentions
Partner Rajiv Naik highlights the importance of transparency, clear guidance and human oversight as AI use expands in UK immigration tribunals.
Video
Senior Associate Tuğba Özyakup outlines how Europe’s Entry and Exit System (EES) introduces digital tracking of non-EU short-stay travel across the Schengen Area, requiring more proactive planning, accurate record-keeping and awareness of increased border processing times to avoid delays and overstay risks.
Media mentions
Partner Chad Ellsworth discusses recent H-1B lottery changes, including salary-weighted selection and filing restrictions, and how they are influencing employer selection outcomes and hiring approaches for foreign talent.
Work authorization
Senior Associate Tracey Kimberly explores the recent increase in RFEs for EB‑5 I‑526E petitions, highlighting heightened USCIS scrutiny of source-of-funds documentation—particularly in cases involving loan-based investments and property sale proceeds.
Work authorization
Director Audrey Morew examines how Nordic immigration systems, while increasingly digital and efficient, can embed compliance risk earlier in the process—placing greater responsibility on employers to ensure data accuracy, internal controls and long‑term compliance from the outset.
Work authorization
Partner Rick Lamanna outlines Canada’s entry requirements for the FIFA World Cup 2026, highlighting visa and eTA processes, border expectations and special measures for participants to help travelers prepare for seamless entry during the tournament.
Media mentions
Partners Aaron Blumberg and Daniel Pierce discuss how a US pause on processing certain work permit applications including OPT creates uncertainty for international students and employers while early court rulings offer limited case-specific relief.
Fragomen news
Senior Counsel Jo Antoons, Senior Immigration Managers Manuela Birsan and Andreia Ghimis, Senior Manager Wout Van Doren, Associate Pauline Chomel and Immigration Supervisor Elisabeth Kamm contributed to the European Migration Network (EMN) Belgium report "Labour Migration in Times of Labour Shortages in Belgium."
Work authorization
Manager Pierangelo D'Errico explores how Italy’s Investor Visa is emerging as a strategic alternative to diminishing EU golden visa programmes, offering high‑net‑worth individuals flexible residence rights, deferred investment timing, Schengen access and a structured—though not accelerated—pathway to long‑term EU residence.
Media mentions
Partner Rick Lamanna discusses Canada’s expanded citizenship by descent rules extending eligibility to potentially millions of people worldwide with only distant ancestral ties.
Awards
Fragomen is recognised in Ibec’s Top 100 Companies Leading in Wellbeing Index 2026, highlighting its commitment to employee wellbeing and a supportive workplace culture.

