Have you just finalized an ESTA application and received a reply from the US authorities stating that your ESTA is pending? When you don’t know what you’re dealing with, this response can seem worrying.
Will your trip to the USA be jeopardized by a pending ESTA status? Will it be necessary to apply for a USA visa at the American embassy? We’ll find out in this comprehensive article.
ESTA USA Visa
Why is my ESTA on hold?
Summary :
An ESTA hold simply indicates that your application has not yet been processed, or that it is under review. The U.S. government receives a large number of requests, so it’s not surprising that the response time is getting longer. It’s also possible that your request raises a few questions and that a slightly more in-depth examination is required.
In any case, a definitive answer will be given within 3 days of your request. So, if you’re sure you meet the requirements of the Visa Waiver Program, which includes ESTA authorization, you can complete the form no later than 72 hours before departure for the USA.
Know your ESTA status
The ESTA form will only be processed by the electronic systems set up by the American authorities once payment, by credit card or PayPal, has been accepted. Once the online form has been validated, the US government has 72 hours to respond to your ESTA application. It’s quite possible that you’ll also receive an instant response.
In the case of a pending application, you will need to return to the official U.S. government website with your (or the applicant’s) passport and the application number. If you forgot to enter your ESTA number, or can’t find it, you can also access your ESTA application by entering your passport number, date of issue, expiry date, issuing country and date of birth.
If you have ordered an ESTA via a private website, the answer will probably be sent to you by e-mail, or will appear in your customer area. However, there’s nothing to stop you visiting the official website to check the status of your application.
The different ESTA statuses
Pending ESTA authorization is a provisional status leading to authorization being granted or denied. We explain below how to proceed in both cases.
ESTA granted, your trip to the United States is approved
Receiving a positive reply gives you the right to travel to the USA. However, be sure to meet the conditions imposed by the ESTA regarding the nature and duration of your stay in the USA. This electronic travel authorization gives you the right to travel to the USA, but is not an authorization to enter the country. The ESTA only allows a temporary stay on American soil: 90 days maximum. What’s more, the stay must be for transit, tourism or business travel by air or sea. You need a passport that is valid for the entire duration of your stay in the USA. The decision to let you enter the U.S. rests solely with the immigration officer.
ESTA authorization is granted for 2 years, passport validity permitting. You are free to travel to the United States as many times as you like during the validity of your ESTA. Please note, however, that a new passport will invalidate your travel authorization, and a new ESTA application will have to be made in the same way as the first.
ESTA refused, your trip to the USA is not possible under VWP
A refused permit is, of course, a complication. However, you can still travel to the USA, as this is not an inadmissibility.
If your ESTA is refused, the first thing to do is check the information you provided when you applied online. The form to be filled in must correspond exactly to the data on your electronic or biometric passport; a typing error can lead to a refusal. The same applies to a positive answer to one of the ESTA form’s closed questions. It’s not a question of lying, but of checking the question’s title. If you are diabetic, for example, and answered yes to the question about your state of health, you have made a mistake. The purpose of the questionnaire is to determine whether you pose a threat to American homeland security, hence the question on contagious diseases and mental disorders. Diabetes does not pose a threat to American national security.
If no errors have been made, you probably don’t qualify for ESTA. If you are a national of a Visa Waiver Program country and have filled in the ESTA form correctly, your dual nationality may be the problem. The Trump administration is denying visa waiver to Iraqi, Iranian, Syrian and Sudanese nationals. The refusal may also be due to your passport: only a valid biometric or electronic passport is valid for travel to the USA. An emergency passport cannot be used. If your ESTA application is refused on the grounds of ineligibility, you will need to apply for a visa from the American consulate or the consular services of the American embassy. Which U.S. visa to choose depends on the nature of your stay in the USA. Applying for a visa takes longer, sometimes requires you to provide supporting documents (including a passport photo), and costs more. The process of obtaining a visa begins online, on the U.S. embassy website.
