The USA is a very popular tourist destination for Europeans, and for good reason: cities that never sleep, wide open spaces, dream beaches, etc. Tourism in the USA is a major contributor to the American national economy. So it’s hardly surprising that the American government is keen to attract as many travellers as possible. The Visa Waiver Program was born of this desire. But what is the link between this visa waiver program andESTA USA?
ESTA, the VWP filter
With terrorist attacks on the rise, the USA could no longer afford to let travelers enter the country unchecked. In order to guarantee American homeland security while promoting tourism, the American authorities developed an electronic travel authorization system: the ESTA.
This travel authorization must be obtained before departure for your trip to the USA by air or sea. Airlines and shipping companies won’t let you board if you don’t have a visa or ESTA. The ESTA application is made online by filling in a form. You are free to apply online via the official U.S. government website, or via a private site offering to do the procedure on your behalf.
Who is entitled to request ESTA authorization?
As ESTA was created to secure the Visa Waiver Program, it is only logical that the first condition for any authorization request should be membership of this program. Thirty-eight countries are currently members. Nationals of these countries are therefore eligible for ESTA.
In addition to being from a signatory country, applicants must prove that they are not a threat to American national security. To this end, the American authorities have added a series of questions to the ESTA application form. You have to answer yes or no to simple questions about your physical and mental health, your membership of extremist groups, your criminal record and so on. It goes without saying that answering yes to any of these questions will prevent you from obtaining an ESTA USA.
The final eligibility requirement, which applies to all stays in the USA, is a valid and secure passport, i.e. a biometric or electronic passport. French nationals must have a passport valid for their entire stay in the USA. Other nationalities may be required to hold a passport valid for a further 6 months.
Does ESTA authorize all types of travel to the United States?
If you are eligible for ESTA, make sure your trip is too. The ESTA is a temporary travel authorization, allowing you to stay in the U.S. for a maximum of 90 consecutive days. You don’t need to mention the duration of your trip on your ESTA application – after all, it’s valid for multiple stays over the two-year validity period – but immigration officials will check this before letting you enter the country. To do this, they will refer to your ticket: the round-trip ticket for an entry and the exit ticket for a stopover.
To work in the USA, study at an American university or do an internship in the USA, you need to apply for a US visa, not an ESTA authorization. If this is your intention, you should consult the US embassy website to find out how to apply for a USA visa. To be eligible for ESTA authorization, your trip to the USA must be for tourism, business or transit.
If all these conditions are met, you’re eligible for ESTA. All you have to do is fill in the ESTA form. It’s important to bring your passport and payment card with you when you apply online. Enter your personal details, your passport details and the reason why you are traveling to the USA, and that’s it! We’ll get back to you within 72 hours.
