Do you need to travel to the USA? For some years now, it has been necessary to fill in the ESTA form as part of the Visa Waiver Program. This new travel formality is intended for foreign nationals from countries covered by this agreement, who intend to enter the USA by sea or air. You need a biometric or electronic passport to travel to the USA.
Is it possible to apply for ESTA free of charge?
Between January 12, 2009, when ESTA was launched, and September 8, 2010, citizens of VWP signatory countries were able to travel to the USA using the free ESTA form. At the time, the U.S. government did not charge a fee for this travel formality. It was therefore possible to fill in the ESTA form and obtain it free of charge.
After a 20-month trial, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) decided to tax the ESTA. In the meantime, for-profit sites have sprung up to offer this form, while providing travelers with additional services.
Filling in the ESTA USA, easy
The ESTA form can be completed by the traveler or a third party. It is also possible to make a group application. To make filling in the ESTA USA form as easy as possible for the traveler, some sites have qualified staff who can help with the form. If assistance is not required, an ESTA application can be made on the U.S. government website.
The ESTA form is divided into several parts:
- a section on your identity: surname, first names, nationality, date and place of birth and address;
- a section on your passport: date of issue, passport number, expiry date;
- a series of closed questions relating to your criminal and medical history, in order to safeguard the country’s internal security.
Don’t forget that you must use one of the airlines or shipping companies approved by the American authorities to enter the country. A temporary stay of up to 90 days and a valid passport are also prerequisites for obtaining an ESTA.
Filling out the mandatory ESTA for the USA
To travel to the USA by sea or air, eligible persons must complete the ESTA form. Completion of the form constitutes a request for authorization to travel to the USA for business, tourism or transit purposes. Travelers must request ESTA authorization for their trip to the USA no later than 72 hours before departure.
Agents take no more than three days to process the ESTA application, and to send a reply to the applicant. Sometimes the response is immediate. But it’s always a good idea to fill in the form well in advance of your trip, to be sure of obtaining authorization before your departure date. If the application is rejected, the traveler will have no choice but to apply for a USA visa at the American embassy.
The ESTA is valid for two years, during which time you can travel to the USA several times.
