Earlier this month the United States announced that Chile would join 37 other counties on the Visa Waiver list. The original implementation date was May 1, 2014. Vice President Joe Biden accelerated the implementation date to March 31, 2104.
Chilean passport holders with both an approved Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) and an e-passport will be able to visit the United States without nonimmigrant visitor visas. Chilean nationals seeking to enter the US for pleasure or business will no longer have to apply for a B1/B2 visa.
Chile is one of America’s most favored nations in US immigration. Not only is Chile now the first Latin American country to qualify for the Visa Waiver program, it is only one of five countries who may avoid the onerous H-1B cap by filing a Trade Visa. The other four Trade Visa Countries are: Canada (TN), Mexico (TN, Australia (E-3), and Singapore (H-1B1).