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Hear’s a rewritten version of the article, focusing on unique phrasing while preserving all verifiable facts and adopting a breaking-news lead with evergreen context:

Argentina Poised for Visa Waiver Program Entry by July 2025, Streamlining US Travel

Buenos Aires, Argentina – Argentine citizens holding e-passports will soon be able to travel to the United States for tourism and business (B1/B2) without the need for a conventional consular visa, potentially by July 28, 2025. This significant shift, if finalized, would allow eligible Argentines to apply directly online through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) and pay a reduced fee of $21, bypassing the current, more rigorous process at the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires.This development offers a substantial cost and time saving compared to the existing requirement of scheduling an appointment, undergoing stringent vetting, and paying a $185 visa fee. Historically, the complexity of the U.S. visa application process has led many Argentines to pursue Spanish and Italian citizenship as an choice route to easier travel to the united States.

in return for this facilitated access, Argentina’s government, under the administration of President Javier milei, is committed to fulfilling a series of technical prerequisites. Thes include strengthening the security features of its electronic passports, ensuring the automated exchange of criminal and security data with the U.S., and adapting its national systems to meet the interoperability demands set by the United States.

A key benchmark for inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) is a visa rejection rate below 3%. U.S. Department of State data indicates that in 2024, the rejection rate for traditional B1/B2 visas for Argentines stood at 8.9%. While this represents a decrease from previous years,it remains above the VWP threshold. For comparison, Uruguay, which previously held VWP status until 2003, closed 2024 with a rejection index of 2.63%.Argentine Foreign Minister Gerardo Werthein expressed optimism about the timeline, noting in an interview with LN+ that the process, while typically lengthy, could be expedited to approximately one year due to Argentina’s current international standing and relationship with the U.S. He highlighted the importance of this development for Argentines, especially with major events like the World Cup on the horizon.

Tourism Sector Anticipates Boost as Visa waiver Nears

The impending arrival of the Visa Waiver Program is generating considerable optimism within Argentina’s tourism sector, which serves international destinations. Between January and April of 2025, over 413,000 Argentines visited the United States, marking a 25% increase compared to the same period in 2024. This figure represents the highest travel volume since 2019 and, if current trends persist, projections suggest that 2025 could see over 850,000 trips from Argentina to the U.S.

Currently, there are 101 weekly flights connecting Argentina and the United States, offering more than 27,000 seats. American Airlines, which holds over 40% of this market share, plans to double its daily frequency during the upcoming southern hemisphere summer. Other airlines operating direct routes include Aerolíneas Argentinas, LATAM, delta, and United, with additional indirect options available via hubs like Panama, Lima, and Bogotá.

in terms of consular visa issuance, 2024 saw 272,762 tourism visas granted to Argentines, a figure comparable to 2023. Though, this remains below the 2017 record of over 353,000 visas issued during the Macri administration.

Key Facts:

Target Entry Date: Argentina aims for inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program by July 28, 2025.
New Travel Process: Eligible Argentine e-passport holders can apply directly online via ESTA for tourism and business (B1/B2).
New Fee: The application fee for ESTA will be $21. Current Process: Traditional consular visa application involves appointments, rigorous controls, and a $185 fee.
argentina’s obligations: Strengthen e-passports, ensure automated exchange of criminal/security data, and adapt systems for U.S. interoperability demands. VWP Requirement: Visa rejection index must be below 3%.
Argentine Rejection Rate (2024): 8.9% for traditional B1/B2 visas.
Uruguay’s Rejection Rate (2024): 2.63% (previously had VWP).
* Argentine Travel to US (Jan-Apr 2025): Over 413