Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced an interim final rule that would replace the current Guam Visa Waiver Program (VWP) with a new program for both Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). The new interim rule also gives the U.S. Customs and Border Protection the capacity to establish up to six new ports of entry in the region to administer and enforce the new VWP.

The revised, interim final rule, which is scheduled to start June 1, 2009, allows eligible nonimmigrant visitors to enter Guam and the CNMI without a visa for business or leisure travel. In addition, it will extend visiting time from 15 to 45 days. The current Guam VWP will remain in effect until the implementation date of this new rule.

Please note that travelers wishing to enter Guam and the CNMI under the new rule will be required to posses a valid and unexpired, machine-readable passport, along with a valid and completed Form I-94 and Form I-736. Travelers must not have previously violated the terms of any previous admission to the U.S.

Individuals from the following countries are eligible to participate in the new, Guam-CNMI VWP:

Australia, Brunei, Japan, Malaysia, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and the United Kingdom (including Hong Kong).