The ESTA electronic travel system is now a mandatory document to travel to the United States. This residence permit has some differences compared to the American visa. Indeed, the ESTA does not address the same travelers and its obtaining is done only online, there are also many sites where you can make your application for authorization.
The process of obtaining the document ESTA
Any stay in the United States of America lasting up to 90 days is subject to authorization. The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) makes it easier for travelers to take official steps to go to the USA. However, before embarking on these formalities, it is imperative to ensure that you meet the requirements of the Visa Waiver Program.
Prerequisites to apply for ESTA
The ESTA authorization is subject to several eligibility criteria, to apply online, you must ensure that you respect the following points:
- have the nationality of a VWP Member State (EU country, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, etc.);
- not already hold a US visa;
- the stay in the United States is carried out in a touristic or business setting;
- have a biometric or electronic passport (make sure it is a valid passport );
- the trip to the USA is of short duration (maximum 90 consecutive days);
- not pose a threat to the internal security or health of the American people.
Once you are sure you meet all of these conditions, you can apply for ESTA online.
Find a site to fill the ESTA form
To obtain your temporary residence permit, US authorities require that you complete an online questionnaire, frequently called an ESTA form. This form is easily accessible and is available on the US Government’s official website via the US Customs and Border Protection portal. You also have the possibility to apply via specialized private websites. The latter have the advantage of providing a personalized assistance service to carry out this process.
The site on which you ask for your authorization of stay in the USA does not have importance on the contents of the form ESTA, it will be necessary that it happens to answer the same questions.
How long does it take for a request on an ESTA website?
An ESTA authorization request offers a lot of flexibility to travel to the United States. Thus, you can make a request at the latest 72 hours before your embarkation. However, it is advisable to do it in advance. In the event that your request is refused, you will have the time to make a new request, if it is a mistake, or to ask for a visitor visa.
Does the ESTA application on the internet pay?
Like the USA visa , the ESTA application generates some fees. The payment of the electronic authorization takes place after the completion of the questionnaire. To finalize your application, you will have to pay administrative fees. Please note that if you do not complete this step, your ESTA form can not be sent to the US administration and you will not be able to go to the US. The basic cost of ESTA is $ 14. However, if you use the services of a private provider the total bill will be slightly higher because of the help provided.
Finally, keep in mind that even if the ESTA is paying , the process of obtaining generates costs less substantial than for the visa. The consulate requires, for example, to pay $ 160 to make a tourist visa.