Every year, millions of travelers fly to the United States of America. New York City is particularly popular with tourists, making it the 6th most visited city in the world. To better manage nationals’ travel within the country, the U.S. authorities require ESTA travel authorization. This is a document issued online by the US Department of Homeland Security.
What is the role of ESTA authorization for New York?
The role of ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) is to provide information on each traveler wishing to travel to the USA. This formality is established to determine whether or not the foreign national represents a threat to the USA. To obtain it, the American authorities require you to fill in an online ESTA form, answering various questions.
ESTA does not apply to all travelers. Issuance depends on travel conditions and the nationality of the applicant.
Travel requirements to apply for ESTA USA
To be eligible for ESTA, your stay in the United States must not exceed 90 consecutive days. Beyond this limit, a B2 tourist visa must be applied for at the US embassy. The length of your trip to New York is not the only criterion to consider. The U.S. government issues the ESTA document for only three types of stay: tourism, business and transit.
As a security measure, U.S. Customs and Border Protection also requires that you have a round-trip ticket before you apply online. This condition assures them that you do not wish to immigrate and live illegally on American soil.
The nationality of the citizen
To visit New York without a visa, you must be a citizen of a country that is a member of the Visa Waiver Program. This system allows nationals of member countries to travel to the United States visa-free.
How do I obtain ESTA authorization to travel to New York?
The formalities for obtaining an ESTA are straightforward. All you need is a biometric or electronic passport that is still valid when you enter the USA. To apply for temporary entry, you need to fill in the ESTA form. It can be found on the official U.S. government website.
To complete the online questionnaire, you need to enter your marital status and various passport details, such as country of issue or passport number. You will also be asked to answer 9 questions, including whether you have recently traveled to one of the “Muslim Ban” countries (Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen) or whether you have ever been convicted of a crime.
In most cases, the system immediately informs the applicant whether ESTA authorization is granted, pending or denied. In the latter case, you need to contact the consular authorities or go to the embassy to obtain a visa.
If your ESTA application has been approved, it allows you to leave immediately, or for up to two years afterwards, for New York or any other U.S. state.
Is the ESTA form essential for travel to the United States and New York?
To travel to the USA, the ESTA is mandatory, with two exceptions:
- you are already in possession of a USA visa obtained after application to the American consulate or embassy. It can be any type of residence permit (tourist visa, work visa, student visa, etc.), as long as it is valid;
- you are a permanent resident of the USA and have a Green Card.