For travel to the USA, the ESTA is only applicable to travelers benefiting from the Visa Waiver Program. Otherwise, an American visa is required to enter and stay in the USA. Moreover, the traveler’s nationality is not the only criterion for obtaining ESTA authorization, as there are other conditions governing its use. For example, it does not apply to entry to the USA by land from contiguous countries such as Mexico and Canada, where the I-94W form may suffice.
Benefits of ESTA travel authorization
Since the introduction of the Visa Waiver Program by the U.S. authorities, travel authorization is required to enter the United States.
Aware that this formality slows down immigration control, the US government decided in 2009 to create an electronic form. This is the ESTA travel authorization. This electronic system offers several advantages. There’s no longer any need to queue for the form. All operations are carried out online, via the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website, or via specialized ESTA sites.
Once the ESTA form has been accepted, the traveler can use the authorization for exactly two years from the date of issue. The ESTA allows unlimited travel to the United States, but each stay is limited to a maximum of 90 days.
The specifics of ESTA authorization
A temporary residence permit is required before boarding a plane or ship bound for the United States.
Only tourist trips, business trips and transits of less than 3 months are eligible for ESTA. Please note that business travel includes meetings with business partners or the signing of a new contract. If the traveler is going to the USA to work for an American company, or for an internship, for example, other travel formalities apply. To do this, you’ll need to apply for a visa from the American embassy or consular authorities.
The American authorities have introduced dozens of different visas, each with its own characteristics (renewal, validity period, etc.) and applicable to a particular situation.
Foreign nationals wishing to study in the U.S. must always obtain an F visa. People with special talents, such as artists, will need an O visa to stay in the USA. Tourists staying longer than 90 days in the U.S. must apply for a B visa. Finally, foreign citizens not covered by the VWP must obtain a visa to travel to the USA, regardless of the type of trip.
Travelling to the United States without an ESTA visa: a more complicated process
Travelling to the USA via the VWP is very simple, thanks to the online ESTA application. On the other hand, to organize a stay in the USA with a visa, the process is more complicated, particularly in terms of administrative formalities and deadlines.
First of all, unlike the ESTA document, where all you need to do is access the online form on the official U.S. government website or on private sites, obtaining a USA visa requires physical travel to the U.S. embassy or consulate general. In many cases, visa applicants are also asked to provide supporting documents to prove the veracity of their plans, whether for tourism or business. Administrative delays and procedures are not the only disadvantages of the visa: its cost is considerably higher than that of the ESTA form. In general, the U.S. consulate charges a minimum of $185 to create a visa.
Whether you’re applying for an ESTA document, a tourist visa or any other visa, when traveling to the U.S. you’ll need a biometric or electronic passport, and you’ll need to make sure it’s valid throughout your stay.
Note that if you already have a valid visa to travel to the USA, you don’t need to apply online for an authorization to stay, and you can travel to the USA without an ESTA.
