ESTA | Electronic System for Travel Authorization

If your ESTA application is denied, you should review the denial notice to understand the reason for the denial. Common reasons include incorrect or incomplete information, or not meeting the requirements of the Visa Waiver Program. If you believe the denial was due to an error, you can reapply with the correct details. Otherwise, you will need to apply for a regular US visa at a US Embassy or Consulate. Contact our experts if you require specialist advice.

While travelers are not required to print their ESTA approval, it is recommended to keep a copy for your records. The approval is electronically linked to your passport, so airline staff and US Customs and Border Protection officers can verify it when you travel. Having a printed copy can be useful in case of any technical issues or discrepancies.

The ESTA application requires personal information such as your name, date of birth, and passport details. You will also need to provide travel information, including your US destination address and emergency contact information. Additionally, you must answer eligibility questions regarding health, criminal history, and past immigration violations.

Yes, children, regardless of age, must have their own ESTA to travel to the US under the Visa Waiver Program. Parents or guardians can complete the application on behalf of their children. Each child must have their own passport to be eligible for an ESTA.

You can rely on ESTA to travel to the US visa-free, provided your intended business activity qualifies under the VWP, for example, attending exhibitions, conferences, meetings, consultations and job fairs or negotiating contracts. You cannot carry out gainful employment during your stay. You will also not be able to stay in the USA for more than 90 days without a visa.

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Planning a trip to the United States for tourism, business, or transit? If you're a citizen of one of the countries included in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), you may not need a traditional visa. Instead, you can apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) to facilitate your journey. In this blog post, we'll guide you through the ESTA application process and provide valuable information for a smooth experience.

If your ESTA application is approved, you'll receive an authorization confirmation that's valid for up to two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. You can use this approved ESTA for multiple trips to the USA within that period, as long as each stay doesn't exceed 90 days.

With your ESTA visa in hand, you'll be ready to explore the wonders of the United States hassle-free. Just remember that ESTA is designed for short visits under the Visa Waiver Program. If your plans involve longer stays, work, study, or other purposes not covered by ESTA, you'll need to apply for the appropriate visa. Safe travels!

Traveling to the United States can be an exciting adventure, but it requires proper planning and understanding of entry requirements, particularly regarding the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). In this comprehensive guide, we unravel the essential facts about ESTA, ensuring your trip to the U.S. starts smoothly.

ESTA stands for Electronic System for Travel Authorization, a mandatory pre-travel authorization for travelers to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Unlike a visa, ESTA allows citizens from eligible countries to travel to the U.S. for tourism, business, or transit purposes for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa.

To apply for ESTA, you must be a citizen of one of the countries part of the VWP. ESTA is designed for short-term visits, so you must have a return or onward ticket. Previous violations of U.S. immigration policy may affect eligibility.

Once submitted, ESTA applications are usually processed quickly, often within 72 hours. If approved, ESTA is valid for two years or until the applicant's passport expires, whichever comes first. ESTA allows multiple entries into the U.S. during its validity.

Travelers with an approved ESTA can visit the U.S. for up to 90 days per entry. It's important to carry a printout of your ESTA approval during travel, although it's electronically linked to your passport. Upon arrival, you'll still go through U.S. Customs and Border Protection screening.

ESTA Guarantees Entry: A common myth is that an approved ESTA guarantees entry into the U.S. In reality, it only allows you to board a plane or ship to the U.S. Final entry is granted by Customs and Border Protection officers at the port of entry.

If your ESTA application is denied, you may need to apply for a visa for U.S. travel. Common reasons for denial include discrepancies in application information or failure to meet eligibility criteria. Applying for a visa involves a more detailed process and an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate.

ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) allows you to enter the United States for tourism without a visa for a visit of 90 days or less under the VWP (Visa Waiver Program). So there's no need to visit your local consulate or embassy.

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An enthusiast of both our vibrant cities & great oudoors, my life revolves around travel & adventure. It's a no brainer that I have to share the wonders & secrets of my neck of the woods with other travelling souls. Enjoy the journey!

ESTA Application

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Many applicants assume ESTA approval is automatic, but it’s not. Your ESTA application answers are screened against security databases, and even minor infractions in your travel history can raise red flags. Plus, misinformation online leads to avoidable errors that could leave you stranded at the airport.

Securing ESTA authorization is preferable to the alternative of having to apply for a US visa – but not everyone is eligible to travel to the US visa-free. If you attempt to enter the US without the required permission, you can be refused entry. And if you answer the ESTA application questions inaccurately, such as failing to declare a past conviction, you can be stopped at the border and denied entry, which can impact your future US immigration applications.

To avoid these issues, you should check that you qualify for ESTA before making your application. If you are not eligible, you would need to look at which visa would instead be needed for your to travel to the US.

ESTA is not a visa, nor does it give permission to enter the US. With ESTA authorization, you are permitted to travel to US but Customs and Border Protection officers exercise discretion as to an individual’s admissibility on arrival into the country.

You are a national of a participating VWP country (such as the UK). If you are not a VWP national, you are not eligible for visa-free travel under the VWP and you will not be required to apply for ESTA approval.

Under the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015, the VWP cannot be used by Visa Waiver country nationals who have been present in Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen on or after 1 March 2011, although some exceptions can be made for diplomatic or military-related travel in the service of a Visa Waiver Country. Visa Waiver country nationals who are also nationals of Iran, Iraq, Sudan or Syria similarly cannot enter the USA under the VWP.

You cannot use ESTA to study, work or live in the US. To stay in the US for longer than 90 days, or to travel to the US for a reason that is not permissible under the visa-waiver rules, you would need to apply for an appropriate visa. Your visit to the USA must last no longer than 90 days, and it must be for the purposes of tourism, medical treatment or business only. If your intention is to travel to the USA for a non-permissible activity, such as to take up employment or commence studies, you are not eligible for VWP entry, and must obtain a relevant visa. Similarly, travel to the USA to work as a member of the foreign press is not covered by the VWP.

Travel Information: the city where you will be boarding to travel to the USA, information on your carrier (air or shipping company), flight number or the name of the vessel you will be travelling on, your address while in the USA (if there will be multiple locations you should use the first location, if you don’t know the complete address you should enter the name of the hotel or location and update later, and if you will be travelling straight through the USA and not staying then use the words ‘In Transit’ with details of your final destination). It isn’t mandatory to include your entire itinerary and all of your destination addresses, but it is recommended to do so.

Do you have a communicable disease? In the USA, commonly acknowledged communicable diseases include chancroid, gonorrhoea, granuloma inguinale, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, leprosy, lymphogranuloma venereum, syphilis, and tuberculosis. If you have been cured or are no longer in the infectious stage, you may answer the question ‘no’ but you are required to provide medical proof that you are not contagious. With lesser common illnesses such as a cold, you can answer ‘no’ to this question.

Do you have a physical or mental disorder? Answer ‘yes’ if you currently have a physical or mental disorder and a related history of behaviour that could cause harm to your property, your safety, or the safety and welfare of others. You should also answer ‘yes’ if you had such a disorder and history and the likelihood is that the behaviour will recur and cause harm.

You will be asked if you are seeking to work in the USA or have previously worked in the USA without permission from the US government. The Visa Waiver Programme is designed for non-immigrant foreign nationals who cannot seek permanent employment in the USA. Those who wish to work and live permanently in the USA must apply for the relevant immigrant visa.

You will be asked whether you have travelled to, or been present in Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia or Yemen, on or after 1 March 201These countries are seen to carry a security risk by the US authorities. You will also be asked if you have traveled to or stayed in Cuba since January 12, 2021.