Spending up to 90 days in the USA can be relatively straightforward if you’re a citizen of a country participating in the Visa Waiver Program. This means that you can visit the USA for tourism or business, or transit through American territory without having to apply for a USA visa. Instead of a U.S. visa, you can apply for ESTA authorization. Is ESTA affordable? We’ll find out in this article.
ESTA features
Before you travel, you need to apply for authorization to enter the USA. This authorization is called ESTA. It was created by the American authorities to ensure the country’s internal security while facilitating the arrival of foreign nationals on American soil.
You don’t need to go to the U.S. embassy to apply for ESTA, you can do it on the government or private website. ESTA applications are made exclusively online, using the ESTA form. The application process is fairly quick, although it does require you to provide some information about yourself and your valid passport, including fields on your marital status, the validity of your biometric or electronic passport and your passport number.
The ESTA is granted only in strict compliance with current legislation. It allows travelers to transit through a U.S. port or airport, for tourism or business trips of up to 90 days. Since January 12, 2009, anyone eligible to travel to the U.S. for less than 90 days must request ESTA authorization before boarding a U.S. government-approved airline or shipping company. ESTA authorization is valid for two years, during which time you are authorized to travel to the USA many times. Bear in mind, however, that your tourist and business trips must always be for less than 90 days.
The maximum number of authorized days must not be exceeded. Please note that this period cannot be renewed or extended. Nor can you change your status once you’re here. This means that you cannot accept work, study, internships, etc. in the USA. Nor can you apply for a visa once you’re on American soil. You must determine the nature of your stay in the USA outside American soil.
Your stay with ESTA
During your stay in the U.S., you can indulge in whatever you like, while respecting your rights. You can go to New York, Chicago, Boston or any other state. You can go to the movies, to concerts, to the beach, to nightclubs, visit national parks, take part in seminars or look for business partners. You can also take language courses to improve your English skills (but not for credit).
To obtain a U.S. visa, you need to fill out an application form and present it to a consular officer at the U.S. embassy. The American authorities offer a wide range of visa types, depending on the purpose of your stay in the USA. You can study at an American university, work in the USA, do an internship, etc.
To obtain your ESTA, all you need is a computer connected to the Internet and to fill in a form, after which you’ll get your ESTA USA authorizing you to stay in the USA. Once on American soil, you can’t accept a job, apply for an extension of your stay, or apply for a temporary visa to try to stay on American soil. This is considered a crime under US law.
The cost of an ESTA travel authorization
The ESTA application is made online, offering maximum flexibility to the applicant. There’s no need to make an appointment at the U.S. embassy. What’s more, you’ll receive a reply within 72 hours. The choice of application medium depends entirely on the traveler: an online application on the official website, or an application via an independent website offering to fill in the ESTA form to reduce the risk of refusal. The price of the ESTA depends on the service required.
For a basic application on the U.S. government website, ESTA costs $14. For applications made on a private site, the price will depend on the service offered. Payment is by credit card. Note that it is possible to make a group application if required, and pay the ESTA fee only once.
Be that as it may, ESTA remains affordable. This is especially true if we compare it with the cost ofa non-immigrant visa: around $150.
