Are you planning a trip to the United States? Before you leave, we advise you to find out about the formalities required for your stay on American soil. The ESTA formality is intended for nationals of countries that are members of the Visa Waiver Program, in anticipation of a short-term trip to the USA (90 days maximum). Implemented as part of the Visa Waiver Program, the ESTA form is mandatory for arrivals in the U.S. by air and sea.
Planning a trip to the USA
If you’re planning a trip to the U.S., all the preparations have to start with formalities. The U.S. authorities are very strict about compliance with entry regulations. Before traveling to the U.S., it’s always a good idea to get the latest information on the formalities involved.
For tourist and business travel, instead of using the B1 or B2 visa, you can use the ESTA travel authorization. ESTA authorization is quicker and simpler to obtain, since there’s no need to go to the U.S. embassy. ESTA authorization can be obtained online, either via the official U.S. government website, or through intermediaries offering additional services such as data verification prior to validation of the authorization request.
ESTA travel authorization is easier to obtain, provided you meet all the eligibility criteria. For example, you must be from a country participating in the VWP, but not a citizen (or dual citizen) of Iraq, Iran, Sudan or Syria; you must be traveling to the U.S. only for transit, tourism or business; and you must not stay in the U.S. for more than 90 consecutive days. The ESTA does not cover all travel purposes. To work in the USA, study at an American university, do an internship in the USA, etc., you need to apply for a visa.
Obtaining a travel authorization, ESTA or visa as required, is not the only formality you need to complete. You must ensure that you present a passport that is valid for the entire duration of your stay. This can only be an electronic or biometric passport. You may also be required to obtain an exit permit, depending on the nature of your stay in the USA. For an ESTA, for example, you’ll need to present a round-trip ticket with a scheduled return date in less than 90 days, which is the maximum length of stay authorized by the ESTA, or an onward ticket if you’re in transit on American soil.
The reasons for creating the ESTA form
The ESTA form is an online form that has been operational since January 2009. This travel formality enables nationals of VWP signatory countries to travel to and transit through the USA without having to apply for a visa at the US embassy. It was created to facilitate travel to the USA, while guaranteeing the country’s internal security.
Unlike the traditional paper I-94W form, the ESTA form is electronic. As a result, the ESTA form not only avoids erasures and illegibility of the traveler’s handwriting, but also ensures a rapid response on the status of the application. What’s more, the information entered in the form can also be modified in the event of an error, as long as the online application has not yet been submitted.
What does the ESTA questionnaire ?
To apply for ESTA, you must fill out an ESTA form to complete. The form consists of an identification form and a series of questions.
Identifying a traveler requires various personal details, including surname, first name, date and place of birth, contact details, as well as information about parents and employment. The ESTA questionnaire, seeks to determine whether the traveler poses any risk to the United States. Questions are asked about the traveler’s physical and mental health, legal problems, relationship with authority, and links with certain countries. The ESTA questionnaire questionnaire doesn’t give free rein to explanations: the questions are closed-ended and accept only yes or no answers.
As ESTA is a travel authorization electronically linked to the passport, passport data will also be requested (passport number, date of issue and expiry date in particular). Because of this intrinsic relationship, any change to the passport requires a new ESTA application. The same applies, of course, to a new passport. To take full advantage of ESTA, we recommend that you check the validity of your passport before applying online.
To validate your ESTA application, you must make a payment. Once payment has been accepted, you will receive a reply within 72 hours. The ESTA is valid for two years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first, but no later than 72 hours before departure. There’s no point in trying to board your flight without a travel authorization, as airlines and cruise lines are obliged to check this before departure.
