RULES FOR OBTAINING AN ESTA: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
The rules for obtaining ESTA are varied, but apply to everyone in the same way. An ESTA document is an authorization issued by the U.S. government to nationals in the Visa Waiver Program, if they so request. It allows these people to travel to the USA without having to apply for a visa at the American embassy or consulate.
The rules for obtaining ESTA have been determined by the Department of Homeland Security. If you don’t comply with them, or if you don’t meet the requirements, chances are your ESTA application will be rejected.
But what are the rules for obtaining ESTA?
Who can apply, and why?
Find out in our article.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RULES FOR OBTAINING ESTA
The rules for obtaining ESTA are many and varied. The US government takes homeland security very seriously. That’s why the rules for obtaining ESTA authorization are so numerous, and why you need to comply with them if you want to enter the U.S. with complete peace of mind.
Firstly, the applicant must be a national of a VWP country.
LIST OF COUNTRIES IN THE VISA WAIVER PROGRAM
| Germany | Greece | Norway |
| Andorra | Hungary | New Zealand |
| Australia | Ireland | Portugal |
| Austria | Iceland | Czech Republic |
| Belgium | Italy | UK |
| Brunei | Japan | Saint-Martin |
| Chile | Netherlands | Singapore |
| South Korea | Latvia | Slovakia |
| Denmark | Liechtenstein | Slovenia |
| Spain | Lithuania | Sweden |
| Estonia | Luxemburg | Swiss |
| Finland | Malta | Taiwan |
| France | monaco | Croatia |
| Poland | Israel |
The duration and type of stay are also important factors in ESTA rules. The stay must not exceed 90 consecutive days, and must be for tourism, business or transit purposes.
If you wish to stay in the USA for longer than 90 days, or if you plan to visit the country for an internship, study or work, you will need to apply for a specific USA visa at the US embassy.
Of course, a biometric or electronic passport is of vital importance in obtaining ESTA authorization. It must be valid at the time of ESTA application, but also for the duration of your stay in the USA. It is therefore advisable to allow for an expiry date at least three months after the planned return date.
The ESTA is valid for two years, which means you can make several consecutive trips to the United States lasting less than 90 days. However, this ESTA authorization is linked to your passport number, which means that if you change your passport during the two-year validity of your ESTA, your document will no longer be valid, and you will have to apply for a new ESTA with your new passport.
You can only apply for ESTA authorization online, as it is an electronic travel authorization system. This means that all applications can be gathered in one place, giving the U.S. authorities faster, easier access to data.
To apply for a visa waiver document, you must complete the ESTA application form online application form available on the U.S. government website, or use an independent site to complete the application on your behalf, in order to verify your claims and increase your chances of making no mistakes in your application. You’ll also need to pre-order your round-trip ticket to complete your ESTA application.
The ESTA form is an online form with various sections concerning your personal data, your valid passport and your medical and criminal record.
RULES FOR OBTAINING ESTA AUTHORIZATION AND ORDER DEADLINES
Other ESTA authorization rules include the risk of refusal of ESTA applications from people who have visited Yemen, Sudan, Iraq, Iran or Somalia after March 1, 2011. The same applies to anyone who has applied for a visa in the past and been refused.
As explained above, the organized trip must not exceed 90 consecutive days, and must be for tourism, transit or business purposes. Individuals must be members of the VWP and must answer a series of questions, including those concerning their state of physical or mental health.
You must apply for ESTA authorization at least 72 hours before departure for your trip to the USA.