If you’re planning to travel to the USA by air or sea, it’s important to remember to apply for a travel authorization. This authorization must be obtained before departure, as there is no question of applying for a visa on the spot. Moreover, without authorization, you won’t be allowed to board the plane.
When to apply for ESTA
The U.S. government provides two types of authorization: the ESTA, as part of the Visa Waiver Program, and the U.S. visa. It should be noted that the consular services issue several different visas, depending on the nature of the stay (work in the USA, internship, study, etc.). In this article, we’ll focus on the ESTA: for what type of stay and when to apply.
When should I apply for ESTA?
Summary :
Before taking any steps, make sure you meet the ESTA document criteria. If you don’t, you’ll need to apply for a short-stay visa at your consulate or embassy. It is also important that the passport used for your stay in the USA is a valid electronic or biometric passport. A valid passport covers the entire duration of your stay in the USA.
Who can obtain ESTA?
ESTA, for Electronic System for Travel Authorization, is an electronic travel authorization that forms part of the Visa Waiver Program. There are currently 41 countries covered by this program, including France, Belgium and Switzerland. Nationals of signatory countries are therefore visa-exempt, i.e. they don’t have to go to the US embassy to obtain a USA visa before traveling to the USA. Instead, the U.S. government requires them to obtain ESTA authorization.
The nationality of the traveler is decisive, but not exclusive. Entry to the U.S. is granted only to travelers who pose no threat to American homeland security. To this end, the U.S. government has decreed that dual nationals of high-risk countries will be denied ESTA, regardless of their participation in the Visa Waiver Program. The countries in question are Iraq, Iran, Syria and Sudan. U.S. authorities rely on the ESTA form to determine who is a risk, which is the purpose of the series of closed questions on health, criminal record, drug use, travel since March 1, 2011, etc.
When should I use an ESTA to travel to the USA?
The reason for your trip to the USA and its duration are also important. Only a temporary stay is authorized with an ESTA. This stay must not exceed 90 days, and must be a tourist or business trip. Note that the U.S. government considers a stopover to be a temporary stay. As a result, you’ll need ESTA authorization to transit through U.S. territory.
When you clear U.S. customs, the immigration officer may ask to see proof that you have left the country. Present your return or onward ticket if you are in transit. The length of your stay in the U.S. will also be checked on departure, as the customs officer can see the date of entry into the U.S. from the stamp in your passport.
You also need to be careful about how you enter the USA. You can only enter the country by air or sea, using one of the air or sea companies approved by the American authorities.
When should I apply for ESTA travel authorization?
We strongly advise you to apply for ESTA authorization as early as possible, so that you don’t find yourself without authorization on the eve of your departure. If your ESTA is refused, you may have to apply for a visa at the US embassy, which could take several weeks.
Applying for an ESTA couldn’t be easier: it’s an online application. Visit the official U.S. government website, where you’ll find the online form you need to apply. The ESTA form includes your personal details, a valid passport, a local address and an emergency contact. It is completed by a questionnaire, the only answers to which can be “yes” or “no”. Completing the form takes around 20 minutes. If you need assistance, you can call on a private service provider.
Once you have paid the ESTA fee, you may receive a reply immediately, or you may have to wait. The American authorities undertake to respond to your ESTA application within 72 hours. To access your application file, you need to return to the official website with your application number and passport number. If you don’t have an application number, you can enter the issue date and expiry date of your passport. We recommend that you order your electronic travel authorization no later than 3 days before departure.
The ESTA is valid for two years, so you don’t need to reapply for it every time you plan to travel to the USA. Be careful, however, to respect the authorized length of stay. What’s more, ESTA is intrinsically linked to the biometric or electric passport. Thus, the validity of the passport influences the validity of the ESTA: a new passport requires a new application. Re-application is not a special formality: the renewal application is identical to the first application.
