If you are a married woman eligible for the Visa Waiver Program and planning to travel to the USA, you must enter your name correctly when filling in the ESTA form. You can choose to use your maiden name and/or your married name. We’ll tell you how.
What name should married women use when filling out the ESTA form?
Married women often hesitate between their maiden name and their married name when filling out the online form. The answer lies in the link between the ESTA authorization and the passport. You must use the same name as the one on your passport. If your passport has not been updated, you must use your maiden name. If, on the other hand, your married name is shown on your passport, then this is the name you should enter on the application form. If your passport shows both, choose one or the other for your ESTA application. If you already have a valid ESTA, but have changed your name since you applied, you need to apply for a new one.
In addition to the surname, you will also need to provide other information, just like any other ESTA application:
- date of birth, nationality, home address, parents’ full names, etc. ;
- passport number, date of issue and date of issue of your valid passport ;
- your criminal and medical records, your affiliation with an extremist group, etc., in order to determine whether you represent a danger to the country’s internal security.
All this information must be truthful if your ESTA application is not to be rejected.
To ensure uncomplicated passage through customs, it’s a good idea to have a passport document (round-trip ticket or exit ticket for transit) in the same name as your ESTA and passport. Presenting a livret de famille (family record book) or your marriage certificate may be a solution, but it is not reliable, as the immigration officer is not obliged to refer to these French documents.
How do I apply for ESTA?
The ESTA form has been designed to simplify the application process. Unlike visa applications, ESTA applications do not require consular assistance from the American embassy. ESTA is applied for via the Internet, by filling in an online form.
To fill in the ESTA form, you can either go to the U.S. government website or use an independent site. Both will provide you with an official ESTA, valid for two years (or until your passport expires, if earlier). The difference lies in the assistance offered by private sites. The online application requires you to provide a large amount of information about yourself, your passport (which can be either electronic or biometric), the reason for your trip to the USA, a local address and an emergency contact. The form is completed by a series of questions to determine whether you are a danger to national security.
When should I fill in the ESTA form?
The ESTA can replace a B visa for eligible nationals. It must be applied for as early as possible, and no later than 72 hours before departure. Although the American authorities will give you an answer as quickly as possible (72 hours maximum), if the application is rejected, you may have to apply for a visa at the American Embassy, which takes much longer.
It is essential to apply for ESTA before departure. Without this document, it is not possible to board a plane or boat bound for the USA.
The ESTA is valid for 2 years, so you don’t need to apply online for every stay in the United States. Remember to check that your ESTA is valid and contains the same information as your passport.
