Expert: Roberto Gomes - 4/20/2010

Question
Hi
I am an irish resident and am travelling from Ireland to Toronto soon. I will then be getting an internal flight from Toronto to Chicago.

Do you need a visa when going from Toronto Canada to Chicago USA?

I await your reply

Answer
Dear Karen,

As an Irish citizen and holder of an Irish passport, you'll can enter the US under the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (V.W.P.)and must meet the following conditions:

- holds ESTA authorisation, submitted via   https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/. The carrier has to validate ESTA authorisation;
- holds own machine-readable passport (MRP) (issued for each individual accompanying family member, including infants);
- holds a passport (incl. Emergency/Temporary passport), if issued (or has been extended):
on or after October 26, 2005; but prior to October 26, 2006, containing digital photograph or integrated chip (biometric e-Passport with information from the data page; or on or after October 26, 2006, containing integrated chip (biometric e-Passport), and
- is arriving on a carrier that has signed the agreement I-775 with the U.S. Immigration; and
- is holding a signed Form I-94W, if required (Visa Waiver Arrival/Departure form issued either by a carrier having signed the agreement I-775, see above, or by a travel agency);
- is holding onward/return tickets (or electronic ticket record or return passages) with a final destination to a country other than Canada, Mexico or contiguous (adjacent) countries/islands situated in or bordering the Caribbean Sea, unless passenger holds proof of
residence in or is transiting to such country/island, in which case onward/return tickets to that country accepted.
Ticket validity is considered 1 year, regardless of fare type;
- is a non-immigrant;
- waives any right to protest any action for deportation.
Total period of stay in the U.S.A. may not exceed 90 days. No additional time is given (extension) based on the departure to contiguous (adjacent) territory. Passenger is admitted for up to a 90-day period and a specific date of departure is given on the Form I-94W (05/08).
Deportation on the delivering carrier will follow if the Immigration officer determines that the passenger is inadmissible.
Passenger can make side trips to Canada, Mexico or Caribbean countries/islands, provided first entering the U.S.A. on a carrier participating in the V.W.P. and provided all other
conditions of the V.W.P. are met.

Hope this helps,
Best Regards,
R. Gomes