Travelling to the United States without a USA visa has been possible since the creation of the Visa Waiver Program. You no longer need to endure the lengthy administrative procedures at the U.S. embassy that a U.S. visa used to require. Today, all you need to do is fill in an online form – an“ESTA application”. The ESTA application can be made on the U.S. government website or via a specialized site. The ESTA is a mandatory form for travel to the USA. However, this procedure is only valid for nationals of countries covered by the Visa Waiver Program.
What you need to know about the ESTA USA form
The ESTA form is an official document that can be filled out over the Internet. In place of a visa, the ESTA document allows you to visit the USA for a maximum period of 90 days. It is strictly forbidden to exceed this 90-day period, at the risk of legal and/or administrative proceedings.
This formality has been introduced to reinforce US homeland security and traveler safety. It applies only to arrivals in the USA by air and sea.
How do I obtain an ESTA form?
Filling in the ESTA form is easy. The information requested relates to your identity, health and criminal record. It’s important to follow the instructions and give precise answers. The U.S. Embassy recommends that you provide the most accurate data possible on all official documents.
The online form is available both on the official U.S. government site and on private sites. The latter offer help for a fee.
To complete the ESTA application, you will need your valid passport and a credit card to pay for the authorization. The application will only be processed by the American authorities once payment has been received.
What to do once you’ve obtained ESTA authorization?
Following your application, you may receive three types of response from the US authorities. Your application may be granted, pending or rejected.
A pending authorization means that you will receive the final answer to your request within 72 hours. If your application is refused, you must reapply within 10 days if the refusal is due to a typo in the online application. You can also apply for a visa at an American embassy. Applying for a visa at the U.S. embassy can take time, so please allow a few months for security.
Once you have obtained your authorization, you can travel to the USA. You don’t need toprint out your authorization, as the American authorities will find your file with your valid passport number. You can use this authorization several times to travel to the USA, as it is valid for two years.
