WHEN TO APPLY FOR ESTA?

Homeland security in the United States has been stepped up more than ever since the threat of terrorism began to loom over the country. That’s why the U.S. government saw fit to introduce the visa waiver system. Since 2009, all passengers from certain countries have been required to apply for ESTA.

In the case of children or incapacitated persons, a third party may apply on their behalf. If you don’t want to drag your feet with the procedure, or don’t have the time to do so, you can simply use the services of specialized sites. The average cost is €60.

IS IT DIFFICULT TO APPLY FOR AN ESTA?

Completing an ESTA application online is fairly straightforward, and applicants should be able to do it themselves. The form is available in several languages. At every stage of the application process, you can access a help page at any time. Information on ESTA is readily available on the Internet and on travel forums. The only point requiring vigilance is the length of the form, which needs to be filled in carefully. Administrative and service costs must be added to this.

DON’T FORGET ANYTHING WHEN SUBMITTING YOUR ESTA APPLICATION

Always check the information you have entered carefully, otherwise your ESTA application may be rejected. In the worst case, you’ll have to reapply. It’s important not to lose your file number, since the U.S. government won’t notify you when your status is announced. You’ll have to check your file yourself.

However, it is possible to update the ESTA, but only for certain information.

You’ll need this number to find out. This is also one of the reasons why people go to specialized sites, since most of them offer to notify their customers as soon as the status is issued.

HOW LONG BEFORE I LEAVE DO I NEED TO SUBMIT AN ESTA APPLICATION?

There’s no set deadline. In general, this is 72 hours before your departure. It’s not practical when you’re leaving on a whim and have no specific plans. However, there have been occasions when people have applied at the airport just a few minutes before departure. This is called an emergency ESTA. But you can also apply several weeks before your departure. This is why an ESTA has a long validity period. Be careful with your passport. If you already have ESTA and have just renewed your passport, you will need to renew your travel authorization using the information in your new passport.