You’re in the middle of planning your trip to the USA and would like to obtain your ESTA authorization to leave without a visa? Rest assured, the process of applying for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) is much less complex than for a USA visa! All you need is a valid passport, a credit card and a computer. Let’s take a look at this essential procedure for traveling to the United States.
ESTA application United States: where and how?
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ESTA is an electronic authorization, so you’ll never see a paper version of this travel document. As a result, ESTA authorization can only be requested online.
To apply for a temporary residence permit, you can either apply on the official U.S. government website, or send a request via a private website.
Whatever your choice, the U.S. authorities will always ask you to fill in an online form.
However, before accessing this form, make sure you meet the conditions required to be eligible for visa exemption, i.e. :
- travel to the USA for tourism, business or transit;
- enter the United States by air or sea, and hold a round-trip ticket;
- stay for a maximum of 90 days ;
- be a national of a Visa Waiver Program member country.
Please note that the ESTA application must be made no later than 72 hours before boarding, after which time it will probably be too late.
ESTA online form
The main purpose of the ESTA form is to enable US Customs and Border Protection to draw up an accurate profile of each traveler wishing to enter the USA. Thanks to this form, US Customs and Border Protection can assess the dangerousness level of each applicant, and thus judge the level of threat he or she represents to homeland security.
Specifically, you’ll need to provide identification information (including your biometric or electronic passport data). Next, the U.S. government will ask about your travel history (reason for staying in the U.S., vacation address, emergency contact). The application concludes with a questionnaire about your criminal record, health or potential travel to Muslim Ban countries (Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Sudan and Yemen). Please note that if you answer “yes” to any of these questions, your ESTA application will probably be rejected, and you will therefore not be able to benefit from visa-free travel to the USA.
ESTA application: the payment stage to finalize the order
To validate your request for authorization to travel to the USA, you must pay the ESTA fee. This fee is 21 US dollars, payable on the U.S. government website. Note that in all cases, an ESTA application will be more economical than a USA visa application, the cost of which varies between $185 and $300 depending on the type of visa chosen.
ESTA application sent, then what?
Once your ESTA application has been submitted, it is analyzed by the customs computer systems. The U.S. authorities rely on an extensive database, so we advise you to be truthful in your answers. If even the slightest lie is detected, you risk being permanently excluded from the Visa Waiver Program, or even barred from entering the country.
As a rule, ESTA admission is validated within minutes of submission. Once ESTA authorization has been granted, you can use it for up to two years, indefinitely, provided you have a valid passport. As ESTA authorization is electronic, you don’t need to print it out. All you need to do is take your passport with you and present it to the controllers. Thanks to the microchip in your identity document, the agents can immediately see whether you are in possession of an ESTA authorization.
It may happen that your authorization request is pending. In this case, we simply ask you to wait a few hours while your file is processed. In any case, a final decision will be made within 72 hours.
The third possibility is that your ESTA application will be rejected. Be aware that if the form contains an error, such as an incorrect passport number, the American authorities may refuse you the ESTA. However, there is a possible remedy: simply wait ten days or so from the date of your first application, then submit a new application online.
If your ESTA application has been rejected, it’s also possible that you don’t meet the VWP’s eligibility criteria. Unfortunately, you will not be able to travel to the United States without a visa. You can always obtain a visa by applying to the American embassy or consulate general. Please note, however, that you will need to provide more supporting documents and incur higher costs.