Nationals of member countries of the Visa Waiver Program who wish to make a short stay (90 days maximum) in the USA for business, tourism or transit purposes are not required to apply for a visa at the American embassy. Instead, they are required to complete a online form to apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).
Other conditions must also be met in order to travel to the USA without a visa, including possession of a valid passport that meets the requirements of the American immigration services, and possession of a return or exit ticket in the event of transit on American soil.
In this article, we take a look at the ESTA formto help you fill it in correctly, and thus reduce the risk of refusal. Before doing so, we’d like to give you a quick reminder of the features of ESTA authorization.
Useful information about the ESTA travel document
The ESTA document is an authorization that can only be ordered via an online form, commonly referred to as the ESTA form. It allows nationals of countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program to travel to the USA without first obtaining a USA visa.
This electronic system was set up by the American authorities to check the identity of foreign nationals wishing to visit the USA, and thus prevent the admission of dangerous visitors who could jeopardize the country’s internal security.
Once granted, the ESTA is normally valid for 2 years from the date of issue, for a maximum stay of 90 days in the U.S., with the possibility of multiple entries. However, it may lose its validity and must be renewed in certain cases, notably when the holder’s passport has expired, or when important information such as the traveler’s name, nationality, gender or state of health has changed.
Fill in the online form
The ESTA process is only available online, so there’s no need to go to the U.S. embassy or consulate to apply. Travelers must complete the ESTAform, available from a number of specialized websites, and pay the cost of processing your application by credit card.
The information requested in the ESTA online form online form for travel to the USA can be divided into three main categories:
- the first set of information to be provided concerns the identity of the traveler (or travelers in the case of a group order): you’ll need to enter your surname, first names, gender, date and place of birth, marital status, e-mail address, parents’ surnames and first names, and so on. You’ll also need to provide information about your biometric passport (or e-passport), such as its expiry date, passport number and place of issue;
- the second part concerns your trip to the USA: the reason for your stay (remember, you can only go to the USA with an ESTA for tourism, business or transit). In the case of a stay, and not just a stopover, you’ll need to provide the address of your local hotel, as well as an emergency contact;
- finally, a list of closed questions on the traveler’s physical and mental health must be filled in precisely. You have to answer yes or no to questions about your medical and legal history, for example, whether you are a carrier of a serious contagious disease or have ever been involved in terrorist activities. The U.S. government also wants to know if you have visited certain countries after 2011 (these include Yemen, Somalia, Iraq, Iran and Sudan). We advise you to answer these questions truthfully, to avoid any problems with immigration officials.
Find the ESTA form
The ESTA form is an online form available at on the official U.S. government website, or on independent sites offering assistance in filling it out.
The ESTA form is not in itself difficult to fill in, but it does take about 20 minutes of concentrated effort to ensure that you don’t make any typing errors. Unfortunately, a simple typo can lead to your application being rejected.
ESTA status
Once you have completed the online formIn many cases, you’ll get an immediate response, either positive or negative. However, your application may be “pending”, which means you’ll need to visit the official website 72 hours after placing your order to check your ESTA status. To do this, enter your application number and passport number.
If you receive a positive reply, you are authorized to travel to the USA for stays of up to 90 days. Be sure to check the validity period of your ESTA: the maximum validity is two years. However, if your passport expires earlier, your ESTA will expire on the same date as your passport. You will need to apply for a new ESTA with your new passport.
If you receive a negative reply, ask yourself about the possible reasons for the refusal. If you do not meet the eligibility requirements, you must apply for a visa at the US embassy. If you think you’ve made a mistake, a new ESTA application can be made.