In January 2009, the Visa Waiver Program introduced a new procedure for entering the United States. Countries covered by this program benefit from a simplified procedure: no visa is required for business, tourism or transit travel of less than 90 days. However, for security reasons and control purposes, an ESTA is required prior to departure. This is an ESTA authorization document to be completed online via the U.S. government website. The process is simple: simply fill in the ESTA form and pay the $21 processing and application fee. You then need to wait a maximum of 72 hours to receive a reply from the American authorities.
Recipients of the ESTA application for travel to the United States
The countries covered by the VWP are: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and United Kingdom.
To be admitted, you need a valid passport (electronic or biometric) and a travel plan for business, leisure, tourism or transit of up to 90 days. Instead of applying for a U.S. visa, these citizens can obtain ESTA authorization online. The choice between visa and ESTA is therefore based on nationality, but also on the reason for travel.
This is easier, faster and less expensive. It should be noted that the ESTA document allows you to go to the USA for a maximum of 90 days. It is valid for multiple entries, for 2 years or until the biometric or electronic passport expires. Even if your ESTA is lost, the official DHS online platform allows you to recover it. Outside of these circumstances or in the event that the ESTA is denied, obtaining a USA visa is the only alternative left if the traveler plans to travel to the USA. It should be noted that the ESTA only allows you to board freely to the United States, only the agents decide your fate upon your arrival on American soil.
ESTA application procedure
The ESTA travel document is obtained through a relatively simple and quick online application. This is an online form that you fill out with your passport. You will be asked to fill in your personal information, passport data and the conditions of your trip to the USA. You must also submit to a series of questions that will allow U.S. authorities to determine whether you are a risk to the country’s internal security.
Your order is considered validated when the payment is accepted. An answer will be given immediately. This may be an approved authorization, a denial or a pending ESTA response. In the event of a pending request, the answer will be available on the official website within 72 hours.