Are you someone who is planning to travel to the US anytime in the near future? If answered yes, you need to first educate yourself on ESTA. ESTA is Electronic System for Travel Authorization, a straightforward digital procedure which lets you know whether or not you’re eligible for traveling to the US both under the visa waiver program or without a visa. In most cases of traveling to the US through a plane or a ship, you’ll require an approved ESTA.
Does this sound complex? You needn’t worry as we’re here to help you with everything that you need to know about ESTA and its relation with traveling to the US.
What is the ESTA?
The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is a program set by the VWP or Visa Waiver Program of the United States. ESTA, as mentioned earlier, is an automated system that decides whether or not applicants qualify for traveling to the US. The ESTA sorts out biodata and all responses to the eligibility queries asked by VWP.
Though an applicant can submit an ESTA application any time before his actual date of travel, yet is advised that they send in their applications as soon as they plan their US trip.
One more thing you have to keep in mind is that receiving the ESTA doesn’t mean that you are permitted to travel to the US. This permission will be finally granted by the US Customs and Border Protection officers after the traveler arrives on the American soil.
So, before you start pondering over how to apply for US ESTA and about ESTA cost, let us give you some of the basic details on the same.
To-do list on ESTA application
- Visit the official ESTA site and apply online. You have to do this at least 72 hours before the date of travel. In case the date of travel has already arrived, get your ESTA instantly.
- Once you’re done with applying, keep a note of the application number so that you can get updates.
- Pay the fees for ESTA which is $14 for any successful application but just $4 in case it is rejected.
- Keep checking the status of application and this can be done through the official site. Click on the button called ‘Check Existing Application’. This might take up to 72 hours but there are many that are done instantly.
- Note down your reference number and in case the printed page is demanded by the airline, get a print out of the application page.
Who requires an ESTA to visit the US?
Ideally, any foreign citizen who wants to travel to the US has to apply for a visa and also receive one. Later on, the VWP or the Visa Waiver Program was introduced to allow the citizens of few specific nations to visit the US for tourism or business purposes up to 90 days without the requirement of a visa. Any citizen of a nation, who is a member of VWP, would require obtaining an ESTA to visit the US.
In case someone belonging to the VWP member country doesn’t get an ESTA to visit the US, he won’t be allowed to check-in on any cruise ship, flight or ferry service that is all set towards the US. The same rule is also applicable on children who are citizens of VWP member nations. However, the only travelers who are permitted to travel to the US without having ESTA are those who are US citizens and those who come via land.
Application Cost of ESTA
Presently, the fees charged for applying for ESTA is $14. For this, each applicant has to submit an application and pay his aforementioned fee. The official website of ESTA receives payments in various modes like VISA, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, and PayPal. The fee of ESTA ($14) consists of two parts:
- Charge of Processing: The applicants who ask for an electronic travel authorization will be charged an application fee of $4 for processing of this ESTA application.
- Authorization Charge: Once they accept and approve your application and you gain authorization for traveling to the US, you have to pay an additional $10, that will be added to the mode of payment you choose.
How long will ESTA be valid?
All approved ESTA applications remain valid for a time span of 2 years or until the applicant’s passport remains valid, whichever comes first. Within this time period, you can make numerous trips to the US. You don’t even have to re-apply for a new ESTA within that period.
During each travel to the US with one approved ESTA, you can stay up to 90 days. Though it is possible to reuse the ESTA, you have to keep some time in between each visit. The CBP officer shouldn’t think that you’re trying to stay on in the US.
Your ESTA will stay valid for 2 years. You should get a new ESTA if you:
- Get yourself a new passport, like temporary or emergency passport
- Change your gender
- Change your name (either first name or your last name)
- Alter your citizenship
- Need to alter your responses to ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ on the ESTA application
Vital requirements for ESTA
In order to qualify for receiving the ESTA, you have to meet a few requirements. You will be permitted to apply for this authorization documents when you:
- Being a citizen of any of the 39 countries that are a part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP)
- Don’t possess a valid US visitor visa (B1 or B2)
- Are thinking of staying in the US for 90 days or a little less than that
- Are traveling to America for business or tourism
In case you don’t meet even one of the above listed requirements, you won’t qualify for applying for ESTA.
So, now that you are aware of what ESTA is, apply for one as soon as you plan to travel to the US for business or tourism purpose.
Author Bio:
Daniel Moore is an experienced content writer. He is associated with many renowned travel blogs as a guest author where he shares his valuable travel tips with the audience.
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