French nationals, like citizens of other Visa Waiver Program member countries, must obtainESTA(Electronic System for Travel Authorization) before traveling to the USA. In the past, foreign nationals were obliged to go through a complex process: applying for a visa. Now, in certain cases, it is possible to apply for another official travel document, which is quicker and easier to obtain. Let’s take a look at visas and the alternatives available to travellers.
Visa to travel to the USA
First of all, it’s imperative for travelers to find out about the different visas available, so they can enjoy a stay in the USA in complete legality. The choice of U.S. visa depends on the purpose and duration of your stay. Do you want to study in the USA? Find a job? Or simply stay for more than 90 consecutive days? Each reason and duration has its own American visa, so an agent will help you with this process at the American embassy. Make an appointment as soon as possible, as the process can take a long time.
And don’t forget to allow for a sizeable budget to qualify for a USA visa. Of course, living, studying or working in the USA comes at a price. However, if you wish to travel to the USA for a more straightforward reason, such as vacation or transit, another document may be required.
Is there an alternative to applying for a visa to travel to the USA?
Since 2010, if you are a citizen of one of the VWP countries, hold a biometric or electronic passport and wish to stay on American soil for a maximum of 90 days for the purposes of tourism, business or transit, a visa is no longer required. It is now possible to apply for ESTA authorization. The big advantage of this is that you don’t need to go to the U.S. embassy. An online application is available in the form of an ESTA form on the official U.S. government website or on a specialized site.
Be eligible for ESTA document
To travel to the USA with an ESTA, foreign nationals must comply with 4 crucial points:
- hold a valid biometric or electronic passport;
- visit the United States for vacation, business or transit;
- travel by air or sea;
- stay in the U.S. for a maximum of 90 days.
Once these requirements have been met, you need to fill in the ESTA form to receive authorization.
How do I fill out an ESTA form to go to the USA?
The ESTA program was created in response to the tightening of security measures in the USA. This is an online form designed to enable the American government to optimize the security of travelers heading for its territory. It also makes it significantly easier to apply for authorization to travel to the United States.
This form is easy to fill in, as all you need to do is provide the information requested by the American authorities. This form is permanently available on the Internet, and is offered by many French-language sites. So you can choose between applying for your ESTA document on a private site or on the U.S. government website.
First, make sure you have a valid passport, or renew it quickly, as your passport number is linked to your ESTA. The electronic ESTA application form must be completed, submitted and accepted before boarding your flight to the United States. The response to the application is often immediate. To avoid complications, however, it is advisable to submit your application well in advance of your departure for the USA, so that you can obtain a response before the planned date of travel.
On the Internet, the price of an ESTA application varies widely according to the sites and services offered. It is valid for two years. This means you can travel to the United States several times with your ESTA USA.
