The ESTA USA stands for Electronic System for Travel Authorization.
The US ESTA system was created by the United States Government to determine the eligibility status of citizens from countries in the Visa Waiver Program.
The ESTA US visa waiver is an automated program that gathers a traveler’s passport details before their departure to the US. The ESTA visa waiver or the USA was made available on January 12th,2009
Eligible citizens should obtain an ESTA authorizationin order to enter the US. To obtain an ESTA visa waiver for the US, applicants must have a valid passport. Upon arrival at a US port of entry, the traveler should hold a valid ESTA visa waiver.
The system isused by the Government of the United States of Americato determine the eligibility status of citizens from selected countries to travel to the US under the Visa Waiver Program, without having to previously apply for a USA visa. Thanks to the electronic system, American law enforcement have more reliable data to fight international crimes such as:
ESTA makes the U.S. territory safer for both American citizens and foreign visitors.
Starting on January 12, 2009 , all individuals planning to enter the country under this program must be holders of a valid ESTA visa waiver for the USA.
What advantages does the ESTA for the USA provide?
The processing time for an ESTA visa waiver is up to 72 hours.
Most applications are processed in just a few minutes, and successful candidates receive an ESTA approval almost immediately via email. This is a great advantage for everyone traveling on short notice.
They don’t need to make any additional preparations, simply submit an online application and receive a confirmation via email shortly after.
The ESTA for America is not a visa, and therefore valid U.S. visa holders do not need to apply for the travel authorization, as an ESTA and a visa cannot be granted simultaneously.
Citizens from an ESTA Visa Waiver Country who wish to travel to the United States for business or tourism must apply for an ESTA authorization by completing the ESTA visa waiver online application form.
Australia, United Kingdom, and New Zealand are among the 40 Visa Waiver countries eligible to obtain an ESTA US visa waiver.
Transit passengers passing through the United States are also required to have a valid ESTA visa waiver upon arrival and to present it upon request at border control.
The ESTA USA will be valid for 2 years from its issuing date or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. All travelers holding an ESTA for the USA can stay in the US for a maximum period of 90 consecutive days .
COVID UPDATE: The United States is expected to ease travel restrictions on fully vaccinated European and UK nationals starting November 8, 2021.
For more information on the lifting of travel bans for foreign nationals on the article Traveling to the U.S. During COVID-19.
The Visa Waiver Program is a US Government controlled program , administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The ESTA visa waiver for the US allows passport holders of 40 selected countries to enter the United States multiple times for business or tourism purposes.
The application can be completed entirely online.
Once the ESTA is approved, the traveller is granted a maximum stay of 90 consecutive days per trip.
The ESTA visa waiver’s greatest benefit is that applicants may travel freely to and around the US, on short notice, without having to apply for an American visa.
Most applications are processed in just a few minutes, and successful candidates receive an ESTA approval almost immediately via email. This is a great advantage for everyone traveling on short notice.
They don’t need to make any additional preparations, simply submit an online application and receive a confirmation via email shortly after.
The ESTA for America is not a visa, and therefore valid U.S. visa holders do not need to apply for the travel authorization, as an ESTA and a visa cannot be granted simultaneously.
Travelers are required to obtain an ESTA visa waiver if:
The ESTA USA authorization is not a regular visa . The ESTA for the USA is an electronic travel authorization to the United States.
The ESTA USA must be presented on trips made to the USA by plane or boat. If you travel by car it is not necessary.
The ESTA serves to screen travelers and have more control over foreign visitors that come to the United States.
The ESTA USA is only valid for tourism, business or during a stopover en route to another country. Find out more info about the transit ESTA visa waiver to the USA.
It is strongly advised to complete the ESTA visa waiver online application at least 72 hours before your trip . The ESTA is often processed in less than 24 hours. However, in some cases, it may take longer to process, up to 72 hours.
If your US ESTA is denied, you will be required to apply for a B1 or B2 regular visa.
An individual ESTA is needed to enter the USA. Check the requirements for an ESTA family application for a family or group.
An approved ESTA travel authorization does not guarantee your entrance to the United States.