ESTA: US Visa Waiver
We often hear about the ESTA procedure on forums and travel sites for the United States. But what is it, who is it for and how do you go about it?
The ESTA is part of the Visa Waiver Program set up by the US government in agreement with 39 countries, the last of which is Poland at the end of 2019. This program allows travelers to stay in the United States for up to 90 days without having to apply for a visa, subject to certain conditions.
How does the visa waiver procedure work?
Before leaving for the USA, you need to apply for electronic authorization. All you need to do is visit the U.S. government website, or any other site offering the ESTA form.
As the ESTA is an electronic authorization, it can only be applied for online. This online application takes the form of a form to fill in. To complete the ESTA form, you’ll need your passport and a credit card. The information requested relates to the traveler’s identity, passport and trip to the USA. The ESTA form is completed by a questionnaire where each question must be answered with a yes or no.
Within one to three days, you’ll receive a reply, which is usually positive if the questionnaire has been filled in correctly and no errors have been made in recording your information.
Visa waiver does not exempt you from the ESTA requirement – on the contrary. Don’t make the mistake of presenting yourself at the boarding gate without this travel authorization, as airlines and shipping companies have been instructed to refuse you boarding. Even if you do manage to board, you won’t be able to pass the identity check when you arrive on American soil.
Why ESTA?
The Visa Waiver Program enables nationals of participating countries to travel to the USA without a visa. This agreement has helped to promote American tourism, while easing the burden on American consular services (embassies and consulates).
In the wake of the September 11th attacks, the US government introduced ESTA: an electronic system for issuing travel authorizations. In so doing, the American authorities have preserved the flow of tourists while strengthening their homeland security. Not to mention that part of the ESTA application fee is used to promote American tourism internationally.
ESTA validity period and expiry date
ESTA authorization is valid for two years from the day you receive your ESTA number. However, as your ESTA is linked to your passport number, if your passport number expires before the two-year period, your ESTA expires on the same date as your passport.
The ESTA becomes invalid if a new passport is issued or if the information provided to the US authorities via the online form changes. It is in fact impossible to update the ESTA, with the exception of the e-mail address and the address in the USA.
To check the validity of your ESTA, simply go to the official U.S. government website with your passport number and ESTA number.
How long can you stay in the USA with an ESTA?
With an ESTA, you can stay in the U.S. for up to 90 consecutive days.
Since the ESTA is valid for two years, you can visit the USA as many times as you like, provided you stay for a maximum of 90 days. Be careful, however, to return to your country of residence for long enough to avoid giving the American authorities the impression that you are living illegally on American soil.
What are the other eligibility requirements?
In addition to the 90-day maximum, the stay can only be for tourism or business purposes. It should be noted that a business trip is not to be confused with the exercise of a professional activity in the country. The ESTA does not authorize you to work in the USA. For that, you need a visa issued by the American embassy.
To be eligible to apply for ESTA, you must be a national of one of the VWP signatory countries. However, dual Iranian, Iraqi, Syrian or Sudanese nationality automatically disqualifies you. ESTA authorization is a security measure put in place to guarantee U.S. homeland security for travel under the Visa Waiver Program. However, several countries have been flagged as dangerous by the US government. Travelers who have visited Iraq, Iran, Libya, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia and Syria since March 1, 2011 are also disqualified.
Travel to the USA is only possible with an electronic or biometric passport, valid for the entire duration of your stay in the country. All French passports are currently accepted, since the first electronic passport was put into circulation in May 2006 (June 2009 for biometric passports).
What should I do if my ESTA for the USA has been refused?
The first thing to do if your application is rejected is to find out why. If the application is rejected because you made a mistake when filling in the form, you can submit a new application. The procedure is the same as above. If an authorization is refused because you do not meet the admission requirements, you can apply for a visa at the American embassy.
Don’t know the status of your request? This means that your request has been put on hold, i.e. it has not been answered immediately. A pending request will be answered within 72 hours. It is your responsibility to check the status of your request on the official website. To do this, enter your surname, passport number and ESTA number.
Do I need to print the ESTA USA?
You won’t be asked to show your ESTA when you board your flight, or during the identity check carried out by U.S. immigration officials, as the ESTA is an authorization that is electronically linked to your passport. In other words, the mere presentation of your passport is enough for the agents to take note of your authorization.
There’s no need to print it out for your personal documents, either: simply enter your ESTA number to retrieve the certificate online. Don’t worry if you don’t have your ESTA number, you can also search for it using your personal information.
