All Information about ESTA in 2020 - ESTAForm.org

Benefits of Applying for an ESTA Visa

20th of February 2020

In this article

Historically, travelling to the US was much more complicated and required attending the US Embassy for an interview to obtain a US visa. The process was very lengthy, with long forms to complete and could take weeks or even longer to get a visa. Now, eligible people are able to apply for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) instead, which is completed digitally and is a faster and cheaper alternative to applying for a US visa.

Eligibility requirements for US ESTA

You must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible for applying for an ESTA, otherwise you will need to apply for a US visa:

  • You must be a citizen of a country in the Visa Waiver Program (see list below)
  • You have a valid, biometric passport
  • Your passport remains valid for the full duration of your intended trip to US
  • You will not be staying in US for longer than 90 days
  • You are visiting US for business or tourism purposes
  • You have the finances to pay for your stay and the return journey
  • You have a credit or debit card to pay the application fee with
  • You already have an onward or return ticket out of the US
  • Entry to US is with a permitted transport company e.g. airline or ship company

Also, note that any children’s passports/ID cards issued after 26/10/2006 are not eligible for visa-free entry to US, an ESTA is required for them.

Who can apply for ESTA?

Citizens that are from the 40 countries that are members of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) are able to apply for an ESTA. The ESTA was established to enable citizens of countries that match certain security criteria to travel to the US without a visa. The requirements listed above must be applicable for the ESTA to be approved.

How does the ESTA work?

When you apply for ESTA and it is approved, it will then be automatically linked to your biometric passport. When you go to the border control, the agents will check your passport to see if there is a valid ESTA linked to it. A valid, up to date passport is essential for visiting the US.

Which countries are in the VWP?

The US officials regularly review and discuss the membership of the VWP with the respective countries. New countries are occasionally added to the VWP, once US officials are happy that they have met the required criteria.

The 40 countries that are current members of the VWP are:

(Year of becoming a member of VWP is shown in brackets).

Examples of when an ESTA USA can be used:

▷ A sightseeing trip to the US

Visiting the US for the purpose of a holiday lasting less than 90 days, such as:

  • A road trip through different parts of the US like Route 66
  • A week in NYC for shopping and visiting landmarks
  • A beach holiday to Miami
  • A family trip to Orlando to go to theme parks

▷ You have business meetings in the US

Through your job (non-US based) you are planning to attend a business meeting, maybe with a client or people working for your company at their US office. Business conferencesand other business related events can be attended. Your visit is a short trip and your employment remains in your home country.

▷ Airport stopover is in the US

When you are flying indirectly to a destination and there is a stopover at a US airport. Unlike most other countries, the US does not have any transit area, so you require an ESTA for the stopover.

Examples of when an ESTA CANNOT be used:

▷ You have applied to study in the US and intend to stay there for longer than 90 days

If you are applying to study in the US, you will require a student visa which you can apply for via the US Embassy. ESTA only applies for US stays of less than 90 days and studying is not permitted, with the exception of a short recreational course such as a cooking class.

▷ You are travelling to the US to get a job

Employment is not permitted under an ESTA, you will require the relevant type of employment visa if you intend on working in the US. This includes taking on a temporary job to pay for your US travel plans, even if it for less than 90 days.

▷ You are getting benefits in exchange for unpaid work

Arrangements such as doing unpaid work in exchange for food and/or accommodation is not permitted under an ESTA. This would be classified as employment and would require the relevant type of visa for the type of work involved.

▷ How to apply for an ESTA

To apply for your ESTA, simply complete the online form:

https://www.estaform.org/application

The form should take around 10 minutes to complete and you will need to have your passport details, a credit or debit card to make the application payment with and a valid email address that you can access to receive correspondence regarding your ESTA application.

If you have any questions regarding the ESTA application process, the team of ESTA experts will be able to guide you through every detail on the form. They can help with questions regarding:

  • Your eligibility for ESTA
  • Requirements for children
  • What details are mandatory
  • Why the detail you provided in a field is not accepted

and many more questions you may have.

Additional information regarding ESTA application and validity

Applying for an ESTA is a quick and simple process and most applications receive a response within 24 hours, however sometimes it takes longer so it is recommended to apply at least 72 hours before the intended time of travel.

It is very important to check through the details in your application before you submit it, as any errors will usually lead to the ESTA getting declined and could impact your travel plans.

The application form requires you to complete all of the details that are marked as compulsory by an asterisk. If any of those fields are left blank, you will not be able to submit your application.

Written by Abisola Fikayomi

Abisola is an accomplished writer interested in US Travel, immigration, passports and visas. She’s passionate about exploring new places and cultures and willing to share her experiences, expertize and findings with others. That is her primary drive for specialising in this industry.

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