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The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) is a program of the United States Government which allows citizens of specific countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for up to 90 days without having to obtain a visa. The program applies to the 50 U.S. states as well as the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands in the Caribbean, with limited application to other U.S. territories. All countries selected by the U.S. government to be in the program are high-income economies with a high Human Development Index and are regarded as developed countries. The Visa Waiver Program was introduced in 1986 with the aim of facilitating tourism and short-term business visits to the United States, and allowing the United States Department of State to focus consular resources on addressing higher risks. In November 2006, the George W. Bush Administration announced that plans for an "Electronic Travel Authorization" program (officially named "Electronic System for Travel Authorization") would be developed so that VWP travelers can give advance information on their travels to the United States. In return, they will be given authorization electronically to travel to the United States, although it does not guarantee admission to the United States. This program will be modeled on the Electronic Travel Authority scheme that has been used in Australia for many years.[1] In October 2008, President Bush announced that the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and South Korea would be added to the program on November 17.[2] "It is a removal of the last relic of Communism and the Cold War", said Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek. [3]
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