[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 22, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2009]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 22CFR41.2]

[Page 150-153]
 
                       TITLE 22--FOREIGN RELATIONS
 
                     CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF STATE
 
PART 41_VISAS: DOCUMENTATION OF NONIMMIGRANTS UNDER THE IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT, AS AMENDED--Table of Contents
 
   Subpart A_Passport and Visas Not Required for Certain Nonimmigrants
 
Sec. 41.2  Waiver by Secretary of State and Secretary of Homeland Security of passport and/or visa requirements for certain categories of nonimmigrants.

    Pursuant to the authority of the Secretary of State and the 
Secretary of Homeland Security under INA 212(d)(4), the passport and/or 
visa requirements of INA 212(a)(7)(B)(i)(I), (i)(II) are waived as 
specified below for the following categories of nonimmigrants:
    (a) Canadian nationals. A visa is not required. A passport is not 
required for Canadian citizens entering the United States from within 
the Western Hemisphere by land or sea, or by air as participants in the 
NEXUS Air program pursuant to 8 CFR 235.1(e). A passport is otherwise 
required for Canadian citizens arriving in the United States by 
aircraft.
    (b) Citizens of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda. A visa is 
not required. A passport is not required for Citizens of the British 
Overseas Territory of Bermuda entering the United States from within the 
Western Hemisphere by land or sea. A passport is required for Citizens 
of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda arriving in the United 
States by aircraft.
    (c) Bahamian nationals and British subjects resident in the Bahamas. 
A passport is required. A visa is not required if, prior to the 
embarkation of such an alien for the United States on a vessel or 
aircraft, the examining U.S. immigration officer at Freeport or Nassau 
determines that the individual is clearly and beyond a doubt entitled to 
admission.
    (d) British subjects resident in the Cayman Islands or in the Turks 
and Caicos Islands. A passport is required. A visa is not required if 
the alien arrives directly from the Cayman Islands or the Turks and 
Caicos Islands and presents a current certificate from the Clerk of 
Court of the Cayman Islands or the Turks and Caicos Islands indicating 
no criminal record.
    (e) British, French, and Netherlands nationals and nationals of 
certain adjacent islands of the Caribbean which are independent 
countries. A passport is required. A visa is not required of a British, 
French or Netherlands national, or of a national of Antigua, Barbados, 
Grenada, Jamaica, or Trinidad and Tobago, who has residence in British, 
French, or Netherlands territory located in the adjacent islands of the 
Caribbean area, or has residence in Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, 
or Trinidad and Tobago, if the alien:
    (1) Is proceeding to the United States as an agricultural worker; or
    (2) Is the beneficiary of a valid, unexpired, indefinite 
certification granted by the Department of Labor for employment in the 
Virgin Islands of the United States and is proceeding thereto for 
employment, or is the spouse or child of such an alien accompanying or 
following to join the alien.
    (f) Nationals and residents of the British Virgin Islands. (1) A 
national of the British Virgin Islands and resident therein requires a 
passport but not a

[[Page 151]]

visa if proceeding to the United States Virgin Islands.
    (2) A national of the British Virgin Islands and resident therein 
requires a passport but does not require a visa to apply for entry into 
the United States if such applicant:
    (i) Is proceeding by aircraft directly from St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin 
Islands;
    (ii) Is traveling to some other part of the United States solely for 
the purpose of business or pleasure as described in INA 101(a)(15)(B);
    (iii) Satisfies the examining U.S. Immigration officer at that port 
of entry that he or she is admissible in all respects other than the 
absence of a visa; and
    (iv) Presents a current Certificate of Good Conduct issued by the 
Royal Virgin Islands Police Department indicating that he or she has no 
criminal record.
    (g) Mexican nationals. (1) A visa and a passport are not required of 
a Mexican national in possession of a Form DSP-150, B-1/B-2 Visa and 
Border Crossing Card, containing a machine-readable biometric 
identifier, applying for admission as a temporary visitor for business 
or pleasure from a contiguous territory by land or sea.
    (2) A visa and a passport are not required of a Mexican national who 
is entering solely for the purpose of applying for a Mexican passport or 
other official Mexican document at a Mexican consular office on the 
United States side of the border.
    (3) A visa is not required of a Mexican national employed as a crew 
member on an aircraft belonging to a Mexican company authorized to 
engage in commercial transportation into the United States.
    (4) A visa is not required of a Mexican national bearing a Mexican 
diplomatic or official passport who is a military or civilian official 
of the Federal Government of Mexico entering the United States for a 
stay of up to 6 months for any purpose other than on assignment as a 
permanent employee to an office of the Mexican Federal Government in the 
United States. A visa is also not required of the official's spouse or 
any of the official's dependent family members under 19 years of age who 
hold diplomatic or official passports and are in the actual company of 
the official at the time of entry. This waiver does not apply to the 
spouse or any of the official's family members classifiable under INA 
101(a)(15) (F) or (M).
    (h) Natives and residents of the Trust Territory of the Pacific 
Islands. A visa and a passport are not required of a native and resident 
of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands who has proceeded in 
direct and continuous transit from the Trust Territory to the United 
States.
    (i) [Reserved]
    (j) Except as provided in paragraphs (a) through (i) and (k) through 
(m) of this section, all aliens are required to present a valid, 
unexpired visa and passport upon arrival in the United States. An alien 
may apply for a waiver of the visa and passport requirement if, either 
prior to the alien's embarkation abroad or upon arrival at a port of 
entry, the responsible district director of the Department of Homeland 
Security (DHS) in charge of the port of entry concludes that the alien 
is unable to present the required documents because of an unforeseen 
emergency. The DHS district director may grant a waiver of the visa or 
passport requirement pursuant to INA 212(d)(4)(A), without the prior 
concurrence of the Department of State, if the district director 
concludes that the alien's claim of emergency circumstances is 
legitimate and that approval of the waiver would be appropriate under 
all of the attendant facts and circumstances.
    (k) Fiance(e) of a U.S. citizen. Notwithstanding the provisions of 
paragraphs (a) through (h) of this section, a visa is required of an 
alien described in such paragraphs who is classified, or who seeks 
classification, under INA 101(a)(15)(K).
    (l) Visa waiver program. (1) A visa is not required of any person 
who seeks admission to the United States for a period of 90 days or less 
as a visitor for business or pleasure and who is eligible to apply for 
admission to the United States as a Visa Waiver Program applicant. (For 
the list of countries whose nationals are eligible to apply for 
admission to the United States as Visa Waiver Program applicants, see 8 
CFR 217.2(a)).

[[Page 152]]

    (2) An alien denied admission under the Visa Waiver Program by 
virtue of a ground of inadmissibility described in INA section 212(a) 
that is discovered at the time of the alien's application for admission 
at a port of entry or through use of an automated electronic database 
may apply for a visa as the only means of challenging such a 
determination. A consular officer must accept and adjudicate any such 
application if the alien otherwise fulfills all of the application 
requirements contained in Part 41, Sec. 41.2(l)(1).
    (m) Treaty Trader and Treaty Investor. Notwithstanding the 
provisions of paragraph (a) of this section, a visa is required of a 
Canadian national who is classified, or who seeks classification, under 
INA 101(a)(15)(E).

[52 FR 42597, Nov. 5, 1987]

    Editorial Note: For Federal Register citations affecting Sec. 41.2, 
see the List of CFR Sections Affected, which appears in the Finding Aids 
section of the printed volume and on GPO Access.

    Effective Date Note: At 73 FR 18418, Apr. 3, 2008, Sec. 41.2 was 
amended by revising the heading, the introductory text, and paragraphs 
(a), (b), (g)(1) and (g)(2), effective June 1, 2009. For the convenience 
of the user, the revised text is set forth as follows:


 
                       TITLE 22--FOREIGN RELATIONS
 
                     CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF STATE
 
PART 41_VISAS: DOCUMENTATION OF NONIMMIGRANTS UNDER THE IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT, AS AMENDED--Table of Contents
 
   Subpart A_Passport and Visas Not Required for Certain Nonimmigrants
 
Sec. 41.2  Exemption or waiver by Secretary of State and Secretary of 
          Homeland Security of passport and/or visa requirements for 
          certain categories of nonimmigrants.

    Pursuant to the authority of the Secretary of State and the 
Secretary of Homeland Security under the INA, as amended, a passport 
and/or visa is not required for the following categories of 
nonimmigrants:
    (a) Canadian citizens. A visa is not required for an American Indian 
born in Canada having at least 50 percentum of blood of the American 
Indian race. A visa is not required for other Canadian citizens except 
for those who apply for admission in E, K, V, or S nonimmigrant 
classifications as provided in paragraphs (k) and (m) of this section 
and 8 CFR 212.1. A passport is required for Canadian citizens applying 
for admission to the United States, except when one of the following 
exceptions applies:
    (1) NEXUS program. A Canadian citizen who is traveling as a 
participant in the NEXUS program, and who is not otherwise required to 
present a passport and visa as provided in paragraphs (k) and (m) of 
this section and 8 CFR 212.1, may present a valid NEXUS program card 
when using a NEXUS Air kiosk or when entering the United States from 
contiguous territory or adjacent islands at a land or sea port-of-entry. 
A Canadian citizen who enters the United States by pleasure vessel from 
Canada under the remote inspection system may present a NEXUS program 
card.
    (2) FAST program. A Canadian citizen who is traveling as a 
participant in the FAST program, and who is not otherwise required to 
present a passport and visa as provided in paragraphs (k) and (m) of 
this section and 8 CFR 212.1, may present a valid FAST card at a land or 
sea port-of-entry prior to entering the United States from contiguous 
territory or adjacent islands.
    (3) SENTRI program. A Canadian citizen who is traveling as a 
participant in the SENTRI program, and who is not otherwise required to 
present a passport and visa as provided in paragraphs (k) and (m) of 
this section and 8 CFR 212.1, may present a valid SENTRI card at a land 
or sea port-of-entry prior to entering the United States from contiguous 
territory or adjacent islands.
    (4) Canadian Indians. If designated by the Secretary of Homeland 
Security, a Canadian citizen holder of an Indian and Northern Affairs 
Canada (``INAC'') card issued by the Canadian Department of Indian 
Affairs and North Development, Director of Land and Trust Services (LTS) 
in conformance with security standards agreed upon by the Governments of 
Canada and the United States, and containing a machine readable zone, 
and who is arriving from Canada, may present the card prior to entering 
the United States at a land port-of-entry.
    (5) Children. A child who is a Canadian citizen who is seeking 
admission to the United States when arriving from contiguous territory 
at a sea or land port-of-entry, may present certain other documents if 
the arrival meets the requirements described in either paragraph (i) or 
(ii) of this section.
    (i) Children under age 16. A Canadian citizen who is under the age 
of 16 is permitted to present an original or a copy of his or her birth 
certificate, a Canadian Citizenship Card, or a Canadian Naturalization 
Certificate when arriving in the United States from contiguous territory 
at land or sea ports-of-entry.
    (ii) Groups of children under age 19. A Canadian citizen who is 
under age 19 and who is traveling with a public or private school group, 
religious group, social or cultural organization, or team associated 
with a youth sport organization may present an original or a copy of his 
or her birth certificate, a Canadian Citizenship Card, or a Canadian 
Naturalization Certificate when applying for admission to the United 
States from contiguous territory at all land and sea ports-of-entry, 
when the group, organization or team is under the supervision of an 
adult affiliated with the organization and when the child has parental 
or legal guardian consent to travel. For purposes of this paragraph, an 
adult is

[[Page 153]]

considered to be a person who is age 19 or older. The following 
requirements will apply:
    (A) The group, organization, or team must provide to CBP upon 
crossing the border, on organizational letterhead:
    (1) The name of the group, organization or team, and the name of the 
supervising adult;
    (2) A trip itinerary, including the stated purpose of the trip, the 
location of the destination, and the length of stay;
    (3) A list of the children on the trip;
    (4) For each child, the primary address, primary phone number, date 
of birth, place of birth, and the name of at least one parent or legal 
guardian.
    (B) The adult leading the group, organization, or team must 
demonstrate parental or legal guardian consent by certifying in the 
writing submitted in paragraph (a)(5)(ii)(A) of this section that he or 
she has obtained for each child the consent of at least one parent or 
legal guardian.
    (C) The procedure described in this paragraph is limited to members 
of the group, organization, or team that are under age 19. Other members 
of the group, organization, or team must comply with other applicable 
document and/or inspection requirements found in this part and 8 CFR 
parts 212 and 235.
    (6) Enhanced driver's license programs. Upon the designation by the 
Secretary of Homeland Security of an enhanced driver's license as an 
acceptable document to denote identity and citizenship for purposes of 
entering the United States, Canadian citizens may be permitted to 
present these documents in lieu of a passport when seeking admission to 
the United States according to the terms of the agreements entered 
between the Secretary of Homeland Security and the entity. The Secretary 
of Homeland Security will announce, by publication of a notice in the 
Federal Register, documents designated under this paragraph. A list of 
the documents designated under this paragraph will also be made 
available to the public.
    (b) Citizens of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda. A visa is 
not required, except for Citizens of the British Overseas Territory of 
Bermuda who apply for admission in E, K, V, or S nonimmigrant visa 
classification as provided in paragraphs (k) and (m) of this section and 
8 CFR 212.1. A passport is required for Citizens of the British Overseas 
Territory of Bermuda applying for admission to the United States.

                                * * * * *

    (g) Mexican nationals. (1) A visa and a passport are not required of 
a Mexican national who is applying for admission from Mexico as a 
temporary visitor for business or pleasure at a land port-of-entry, or 
arriving by pleasure vessel or ferry, if the national is in possession 
of a Form DSP-150, B-1/B-2 Visa and Border Crossing Card, containing a 
machine-readable biometric identifier, issued by the Department of 
State.
    (2) A visa and a passport are not required of a Mexican national who 
is applying for admission from contiguous territory or adjacent islands 
at a land or sea port-of-entry, if the national is a member of the Texas 
Band of Kickapoo Indians or Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma who is in 
possession of a Form I-872 American Indian Card issued by U.S. 
Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

                                * * * * *