When to apply for ESTA?
Unlike the American visa, the ESTA offers much greater flexibility when it comes to organizing your stay in the USA. But how do you know if an ESTA authorization is sufficient for your trip to the USA? This article will help you understand when you can apply for ESTA and when you cannot.
The ESTA application: what for?
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ESTA authorization is an alternative to the U.S. visa for citizens of the 41 member countries of the VWP (Visa Waiver Program). Without ESTA authorization, you will be refused entry to the United States. But even if your nationality allows you to be visa-free, this in no way guarantees that you can benefit from this authorization to travel to the USA. Indeed, in order to guarantee optimal homeland security, other eligibility criteria have been defined by the American authorities. The ESTA application can only be made for a short stay in the USA (90 days maximum). What’s more, this electronic document can only be used for three categories of stay: tourist travel, business travel and transit. The ESTA offers a number of advantages over the US visa:
- A simplified application procedure with an online form;
- Fast delivery of up to 72 hours.
When you apply for a visa, you must physically go to the American Embassy or Consulate General.
I do not respect the rules imposed to apply for an ESTA: what should I do?
If you fail to comply with any of the requirements of the Visa Waiver Program, you’ll need to be a little more organized. Applying for a USA visa can take several weeks, and sometimes weeks at a time. What’s more, the consular authorities will certainly ask you to provide certain supporting documents to prove the veracity of your project. Please note that there is no single visa, but dozens of variations. Here are a few examples of visas that could apply to your trip to the United States of America:
- B-2 visa for tourism or medical travel ;
- B-1 visa for business travel ;
- J-1 visa for internships in the USA ;
- F-1 student visa.
Where and how to apply for an ESTA authorization?
As mentioned above, the ESTA application can only be made online. You must complete the procedure on the official U.S. government website and fill in the ESTA form. Please note that since you will need to enter several pieces of information related to your identity document (electronic or biometric passport number, date of issue, expiry date, etc.), it is essential to have a valid passport . If not, you’ll need to apply for a biometric passport. The ESTA form includes a section with closed questions. This questionnaire enables the American authorities to assess a traveler’s level of dangerousness. The questions cover a wide range of subjects, including your criminal record, your health and your previous travels. In concrete terms, if you answer yes to any of these questions, it means that you represent a risk to the country’s internal security. Unfortunately for you, if this is the case, you won’t be eligible for ESTA. You are free to validate your ESTA form and pay the application fee, but you should be aware that you will probably receive a refusal from US Customs and Border Protection.