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IS IT POSSIBLE TO MODIFY THE ESTA FORM?

If you’re planning a trip to the USA, you’ll need an ESTA. This travel authorization, created under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), has been mandatory since 2009. To obtain ESTA authorization, you need to fill in a form. But is it possible to modify the ESTA form? How do you go about modifying the form? Our experts explain everything in this article!

WHAT IS ESTA?

ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) was created to facilitate exchanges between the United States and nationals of the 41 countries in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP):

GermanyGreeceNorway
AndorraHungaryNew Zealand
AustraliaIrelandPortugal
AustriaItalyCzech republic
BelgiumIcelandUK
BruneiJapanSaint Martin
ChileNetherlandsSingapore
South KoreaLatviaSlovakia
DenmarkLiechtensteinSlovenia
SpainLithuaniaSweden
EstoniaLuxemburgSwiss
FinlandMaltaTaiwan
Francemonaco Israel
PolandCroatia

Citizens of these 38 countries will be required to obtain an ESTA for transit, tourism or business trips not exceeding 90 days. The ESTA is valid for two years, during which time you can make as many trips to the U.S. as you wish, provided they do not exceed the 90 days mentioned.

THE ESTA FORM

The ESTA application is made by filling in an online form. The form is available on the U.S. government website. You will be asked a series of questions about your identity and travel plans. You will also be asked a number of security questions, all of which you must answer “no” to in order to obtain your ESTA.

Mistakes on the ESTA form are not impossible. Even one small mistake on the ESTA form can cost you your ESTA authorization. If this happens, can I change my ESTA form? We’ll answer that question in this second part.

MODIFY ESTA FORM

MODIFICATION BEFORE VALIDATING THE FORM.

If you wish to correct an answer given on the form before submitting it, you can easily modify the ESTA form. All you have to do is go back and correct your mistake, or make the change at the verification stage. The form is also intuitive, so it can recognize certain errors and point them out to you.

MODIFICATION OF YOUR ESTA AFTER SUBMISSION OF THE FORM

Please note that once the form has been submitted, only the e-mail address and your local address (in the USA) can be changed.

If you wish to change any other information, you must submit a new ESTA application.

Since the ESTA is valid for 2 years, your situation may have changed since you applied for it, and you may need to modify your ESTA. If this is the case, you’ll need to apply for a new ESTA, unless the change concerns your local address or e-mail address, as mentioned above.

MODIFICATION OF AN ESTA FORM AFTER A REFUSAL

Have you made a mistake on your ESTA form and been turned down? Don’t panic! You can reapply for ESTA online, 10 days after your first request.

To avoid this kind of situation, you can turn to our partner. In addition to issuing your ESTA, our partner offers you personalized assistance. This assistance includes help with filling in the form, as well as proofreading before submitting the form to the American authorities.

It’s also possible that your ESTA application has been refused because your passport has expired or is an old-generation passport (optical passport). A valid biometric or electronic passport is required for travel to the United States. If this applies to you, you need to apply for a new passport at your local town hall before renewing your ESTA application.

If, on the other hand, your ESTA has been refused for another reason (you have committed an offence in the USA, you have already traveled to Syria, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Somalia or Sudan since March 1, 2011, your criminal record is not clean of certain serious offences, etc.), you need to apply for a visa from the American embassy or consulate.