The U.S. Visa Waiver Program allows citizens of member countries to travel to the U.S. without a visa for a short stay. The ESTA form is an electronic authorization system that allows you to cross U.S. borders without a visa. Its main purpose is to know in advance the identity of all travelers bound for the USA. It’s a way of reinforcing US homeland security, while facilitating the administrative process for entering the country.
To obtain your travel authorization in just a few minutes: click on ESTA online form
Eligibility requirements and use of the ESTA form
The ESTA form is in no way intended to replace the USA visa, as the conditions of access to these two documents are totally different.
The length of your stay in the USA is a key factor in determining whether to choose an ESTA or a visa. If you plan to visit the United States of America for less than 90 consecutive days, you will probably be able to apply for ESTA. However, this is not the only criterion to be taken into account: the trip to the USA must also be for tourism, business or transit purposes.
Access to the ESTA form is limited to certain nationalities. In order to travel to the United States with a Temporary Travel Authorization, the national must be a citizen of one of the VWP member countries. The list of participating countries includes all European Union countries, as well as Japan, Israel and New Zealand.
The ESTA document is valid for a maximum of 2 years. However, this also depends on the validity of your passport. If your biometric or electronic passport expires before the ESTA expiry date, you will no longer be able to use your travel authorization. The only solution is to renew your passport first, then apply for a new one online.
Thanks to the ESTA document, you can make multiple trips to the United States. However, make sure that each stay in the U.S. is less than 90 days.
Is the ESTA USA application free or subject to a fee?
The U.S. government launched this system to facilitate travel for nationals of countries under the Visa Waiver Program, while guaranteeing the security of its territory. ESTA authorization was therefore free of charge at the outset in 2009, so that travelers could adapt to the new procedure.
However, as of September 8, 2010, it has become chargeable. Applicants must pay US$21 to cover administrative costs and a tourist tax. If you apply for ESTA via a private website, you will have to pay an additional fee for assistance throughout the process.
However, the ESTA form is still cheaper than the U.S. visa. To apply for the latter, you’ll need to pay a minimum of US$185.
What should I do if my ESTA application is rejected?
Cases of refusal are relatively rare. If this happens to you, first check that it is not a question of an error in the information provided: name, passport number, etc… If this is indeed a typing error or an oversight, you can submit a new request.
Refusal may also be due to non-compliance with one of the eligibility conditions. This could be the case if you’re planning to look for work in the US, or if you’re looking for an internship in the USA. In this case, you’ll need to apply for a visa from the consular authorities or the U.S. embassy.