{"id":194,"date":"2019-12-20T12:46:22","date_gmt":"2019-12-20T12:46:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hb1079.org\/what-documents-are-needed-to-travel-to-the-usa\/"},"modified":"2025-11-03T14:08:21","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T14:08:21","slug":"documents-necessary-voyager-usa","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/hb1079.org\/en\/documents-necessary-voyager-usa\/","title":{"rendered":"What documents are needed to travel to the USA?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Any stay in the United States, for whatever reason, requires you to submit to various formalities to obtain several travel documents. Indeed, all it takes is one missing or inappropriate document for the US customs services to refuse access to US territory. To avoid this problem, we&#8217;ve listed all the travel documents you&#8217;ll need to travel to the USA.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_passport_a_mandatory_travel_document_to_stay_in_the_USA\"><\/span>The passport: a mandatory travel document to stay in the USA<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_86 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a797b1079e45\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a797b1079e45\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/hb1079.org\/en\/documents-necessary-voyager-usa\/#The_passport_a_mandatory_travel_document_to_stay_in_the_USA\" >The passport: a mandatory travel document to stay in the USA<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/hb1079.org\/en\/documents-necessary-voyager-usa\/#Passport_category\" >Passport category<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/hb1079.org\/en\/documents-necessary-voyager-usa\/#The_validity_of_the_passport\" >The validity of the passport<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/hb1079.org\/en\/documents-necessary-voyager-usa\/#The_authorization_of_stay_a_travel_document_necessary_to_enter_the_United_States\" >The authorization of stay: a travel document necessary to enter the United States<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/hb1079.org\/en\/documents-necessary-voyager-usa\/#ESTA_an_electronic_travel_document\" >ESTA: an electronic travel document<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/hb1079.org\/en\/documents-necessary-voyager-usa\/#ESTA_application\" >ESTA application<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/hb1079.org\/en\/documents-necessary-voyager-usa\/#Non-immigrant_visa\" >Non-immigrant visa<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/hb1079.org\/en\/documents-necessary-voyager-usa\/#How_to_apply_for_a_visa\" >How to apply for a visa?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>To enter American soil, the American authorities require all foreign nationals to have a passport. But beware, there are some specific rules to follow when it comes to this identity document.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Passport_category\"><\/span>Passport category<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In order to travel to the USA, travelers are required to have a biometric passport.<\/p>\n<p>The new-generation passport, known as biometric, is fitted with an electronic chip that records information on the holder&#8217;s identity (civil status, height, fingerprints, etc.). If you have any doubts about the type of passport you have, just check the cover page of your identity document, when the word \u201cpassport\u201d is underlined, it means that it is indeed a biometric passport.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_validity_of_the_passport\"><\/span>The validity of the passport<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In addition to the category of passport, it is essential to check that you are traveling with a valid passport. To do this, simply check the expiry date of the identity document. Attention, we advise you to anticipate this step, because the renewal of a passport requires several weeks of waiting. It would be a shame to cancel your trip to the USA simply because of an invalid passport.<\/p>\n<p>A valid passport also has another major function: it can be used to apply for a residence permit, whether for an American visa or an ESTA. For <a href=\"https:\/\/hb1079.org\/en\/\">ESTA applications<\/a>, the official website asks you to upload your passport online.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_authorization_of_stay_a_travel_document_necessary_to_enter_the_United_States\"><\/span>The authorization of stay: a travel document necessary to enter the United States<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The US government has one of the strictest immigration policies in the world. As such, the US Department of Homeland Security pays particular attention to travelers wishing to travel to the USA. To make sure that they don&#8217;t plan to stay illegally on American soil, the US government has introduced two travel documents: the visa and the ESTA.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"ESTA_an_electronic_travel_document\"><\/span>ESTA: an electronic travel document<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>ESTA is part of the visa waiver program set up by the US government. The exemption program was created with the aim of encouraging tourism in the USA while easing the procedures for entering the territory. ESTA is a security measure that keeps a close eye on the profile of every visa-exempt traveler.<\/p>\n<p>In concrete terms, the ESTA authorization is an electronic travel authorization allowing travel to the United States without a visa. This document is intended for nationals of the 41 member countries of the Visa Waiver Program. The conditions for using this travel document in the USA are strict: <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>the trip must be limited to a maximum stay of 90 days;<\/li>\n<li>it must be a tourist stay, a business trip or a transit;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"ESTA_application\"><\/span>ESTA application<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Applying for an ESTA is very simple. All you have to do is access the official U.S. government website and fill in an online form.<\/p>\n<p>To complete the ESTA form, you need to fill in the information on your passport (marital status, passport number, country of citizenship, date of issue, expiry date, etc.). In order to make sure that you do not represent any threat for the country, you will then have to answer a brief questionnaire. The questions asked relate in particular to your criminal history, your previous trips or your state of health.<\/p>\n<p>To validate your ESTA application, you must pay the <a href=\"https:\/\/hb1079.org\/en\/how-much-does-the-esta-application-cost\/\">application fee<\/a>. Your request will then be processed within 72 hours. If you meet the ESTA eligibility criteria, your admission should go smoothly. It is not uncommon for the request to be approved within minutes of submission.<\/p>\n<p>If ESTA authorization is granted, you can then go to the United States without a visa, as many times as you want for two years, which is the validity period of the authorization. If your ESTA application is rejected, it&#8217;s likely that you don&#8217;t meet the conditions of the <a href=\"https:\/\/travel.state.gov\/content\/travel\/en\/us-visas\/tourism-visit\/visa-waiver-program.html\">Visa Waiver Program<\/a>. In this case, you will need to apply for a visa.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Non-immigrant_visa\"><\/span>Non-immigrant visa<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The non-immigrant visa is also a temporary residence permit, but it applies to more specific cases than the ESTA. Be aware that the USA visa comes in dozens of different versions, each applying to a specific situation. Here are some examples of the most frequently used visas:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/usa-b2.com\/en\/visa-b2\/\">B2 visa: tourism<\/a>;<\/li>\n<li>B1 visa: business trip;<\/li>\n<li>F\/M visa: international students;<\/li>\n<li>J visa: trainees;<\/li>\n<li>H1-B visa: specialized professions;<\/li>\n<li>H2-B visa: seasonal or temporary non-agricultural workers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_apply_for_a_visa\"><\/span>How to apply for a visa?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>After determining which type of visa corresponds to your trip, you will need to complete the DS-160 form on the US Embassy website. Once completed, you will need to pay the visa fee and submit your application.<\/p>\n<p>Depending on the type of visa requested, you may be asked to gather supporting documents and submit an application to the United States Embassy during an interview with a consular officer. If the visa application is approved, the visa will be affixed to your passport. The passport will then be sent to you by post. The validity period of the visa is variable, it varies from 6 months to 10 years and is sometimes renewable.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Any stay in the United States, for whatever reason, requires you to submit to various formalities to obtain several travel documents. Indeed, all it takes is one missing or inappropriate document for the US customs services to refuse access to US territory. To avoid this problem, we&#8217;ve listed all the travel documents you&#8217;ll need to &#8230; <a title=\"What documents are needed to travel to the USA?\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/hb1079.org\/en\/documents-necessary-voyager-usa\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about What documents are needed to travel to the USA?\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":179,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"both","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":301,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-194","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hb1079.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/194","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hb1079.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hb1079.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hb1079.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hb1079.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=194"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/hb1079.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/194\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":408,"href":"https:\/\/hb1079.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/194\/revisions\/408"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hb1079.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/179"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hb1079.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=194"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}