Tourist & Student Visa Plan : Esta Visa

What is ESTA?

The Electronic System for Visa Authorization, known simply as ESTA, is an automated, online system that first checks if you are eligible to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) without posing any law enforcement or security risk. If you are eligible, you will be issued an ESTA authorization to enter the United States.

The ESTA is not a visa. You will need to apply for an ESTA if you are one of the 39 countries¹ that are signatories of the VWP of the United States. Even if you are from one of these VWP countries, you cannot enter or travel in the United States without a valid ESTA. You can see a complete list of the VWP countries here.

If you have a valid visa for US travel, of course, you do not need an ESTA. However, it is worth bearing in mind that neither a valid visa nor an ESTA guarantees entry into the United States if you do not meet other conditions.

¹Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Republic of, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Taiwan (only holders of a passport with a National Identification Number), United Kingdom (only British citizens). Citizens with passports from the new countries of Curacao, Bonaire, St Eustatius, Saba and St Maarten (the former Netherlands Antilles) are not eligible to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program.

How long can you stay with an ESTA?

An approved ESTA is valid for two years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. If your passport expires in less than two years, you will receive an ESTA valid until the passport’s expiration date.

An approved ESTA also permits multiple trips to the United States without having to re- apply for an ESTA each time. However, you may stay for no longer than 90 days during any one visit. There is no set requirement for how long you should wait between visits but it is always a smart idea to allow a reasonable period between visits to avoid giving the impression that you are trying to stay long-term in the United States using an ESTA.

If your ESTA expires while you are in the US, it will not affect your departure.

Covid-related: VWP travelers who have difficulty returning to their countries due to COVID-19 related travel restrictions, flight cancellations or illness are currently permitted to apply for a maximum extension of an additional 30 days within which they will depart the United States.

How do you apply for an ESTA?

You or a trusted third party can apply for an ESTA at a secure public website managed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the CBP. You can initiate the application process here. Once you have entered the required biographic, travel and payment information, the system will process your application to determine your eligibility to travel to the United States under the VWP without a visa. If you are eligible, the system will respond with an automated approval which will remain on file and will be reviewed by the selected carrier before they let you board the aircraft.

The DHS recommends that you apply for ESTA authorization as soon as you know you will be traveling to the United States under the VWP. The CBP recommends that you apply for ESTA at the time of booking your ticket for travel, but no less than 72 hours prior to boarding.

The ESTA approval authorizes you to board a carrier for travel to the United States under the VWP. However, the private carrier you select must be a signatory to the VWP. You can download a list of signatory carriers here. Before boarding, the carrier will electronically verify with the CBP that you have an approved ESTA on file.

Upon arrival in the United States you will be asked to complete a blue Customs declaration affirming that you do have the required ESTA authorization. VWP travelers are no longer required to complete the green I-94W Arrival/Departure card.

When will you need a new ESTA?

You will need to re-apply for ESTA authorization if —

• You are issued a new passport,
• You change your name (first and/or last)
• You change your gender (ESTA does not currently have a gender X to choose from on the application. It is suggested that the traveler choose whichever choice they feel most comfortable with. ESTA will not be denied solely on the gender chosen on the application.)
• Your country of citizenship changes
• Your circumstances change, e.g., you are convicted of a crime of moral turpitude or you develop a contagious disease. Such a change may require you to get a visa to travel to the U.S. You must re-apply and your application must reflect the change in your circumstances or you may be denied entry upon arrival in the United States. A list of conditions that could make you ineligible to receive a visa to enter the United States can be viewed here.

How much does an ESTA cost?

YThere are two parts to the fee for getting an ESTA —

Processing Charge: All applicants requesting an electronic travel authorization are charged US$ 4 for the processing of the application.

Authorization charge: If your application is approved and you receive authorization to travel to the United States under the VWP, an additional US$ 10 will be added to your payment method. If your ESTA application is denied, you will only pay US$ 4 processing
charge.

Applying for ESTA is straightforward and relatively simple, and you could complete the entire process yourself quite easily by following the instructions and guidance on the CBP application page here. Before you start, scroll down to the bottom of the page and watch the 6-minute video there with clear instructions for applicants. Taking the help of an agency to apply for ESTA might save you a little time but could cost you anything between US$30-100 or more.

At this time, entry into the United States remains suspended for most individuals, other than US citizens and lawful permanent residents, who have been physically present within the United Kingdom, excluding overseas territories outside of Europe, or the Republic of Ireland within 14 days of travel to the US.
Even if you have a valid ESTA, if you do not belong to one of the authorized groups mentioned above, your ESTA will be cancelled if you attempt to travel to the United States in violation of the Proclamation. ESTA will not refund applications that are canceled due to this Proclamation.

This is in accordance with Proclamation—Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Certain Additional Persons Who Pose a Risk of Transmitting Coronavirus, which became effective at 11:59 p.m. eastern daylight time on March 16, 2020. Proclamation 9993 regarding travel from a Schengen Area country also remains in effect.
If you have any questions about whether you are subject to or exempted from the Proclamation, please refer to the Proclamation language, and consult with the U.S. Department of State and the air carrier, as appropriate, in advance of travel to avoid travel disruptions. Proclamation 9984 (Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Persons Who Pose a Risk of Transmitting 2019 Novel Coronavirus and Other Appropriate Measures To Address This Risk), Proclamation 9992 (Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Certain Additional Persons Who Pose a Risk of Transmitting 2019 Novel Coronavirus), and Proclamation 9993 (Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Certain Additional Persons Who Pose a Risk of Transmitting 2019 Novel Coronavirus) all remain in effect.