The U.S. participates with 36 other countries (as of January 2011) in the Visa Waiver Program.  This allows travelers of these participating countries to visit as tourists without having to apply for a visitor visa.  International visitors must first register through ESTA in order to travel on the Visa Waiver Program to the U.S.

Since June 26, 2005, DHS has required machine-readable passports of all travelers from Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries who are seeking to enter the U.S. without a visa.

You can find out if your country is on this list of VWP countries here.

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