Everything You Need To Know About United States E-visa

In 2009, the United States introduced the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) to make the visa application process easier and secure for foreign nationals who intend to visit the country. All foreign nationals except citizens of visa exempt countries need to take ESTA to enter the country legally, and it is widely considered one of the easiest ways to obtain a United States visa for business and tourist purposes.

Travelers need to obtain the ESTA prior to your departure, and you can obtain these e-visas by simply filling out an online application, and making a payment using a debit card, credit card or PayPal. After analyzing your request, United States authorities will send you the electronic travel authorization to your email.

While traveling to the United States, the foreign national should take a print out a copy of the ESTA, and should show it at the country’s entry port. Upon entering the United States, the officers at the check point will verify the ESTA on their system, and if found satisfactory, they will grand you the permission to enter the country.

United States offer electronic system for travel authorization for both tourist and business purposes. Please scroll down to know more about ESTA for business and tourism.

Electronic System for Travel Authorization, Business and Tourist (E-visa)

United States of America ESTA is issued to foreign nationals who wish to visit the country for tourism and business-related activities. Using these e-visas, the foreign national is not supposed to work in the country, and if the authorities nab the traveler for violating the laws, strict legal actions will be taken.

Please find below the criteria that should be fulfilled to obtain an ESTA to visit the United States.

• In order to apply for an ESTA, the foreign national should be a citizen or eligible national of a Visa Waiver Program country.
• The foreign national should not possess a currently valid visit visa to obtain am ESTA.
• The duration of your visit to the United States should be less than 90 days.
• The foreign national should have no history of United States immigration violations.
• The traveler should hold proofs of onward or return tickets in a flight service that is registered with ESTA.

If you meet all these requirements, the foreign national should fill out the online application form, and should pay the visa processing fee via debit card, credit card or PayPal. If you find any difficulties while filling the online application form, the foreign national can avail the help of entrusted travel agencies like Visa Genie. Experts at Visa Genie will help you while filling the online application form, and thus, you can obtain an ESTA without any hassles.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What is ESTA issued by the United States?

The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is basically an automated system that helps the authorities in determining whether a foreign national is eligible to visit the United States as a part of the visa waiver program. While applying for an ESTA, the foreign national will be notified whether he is eligible to enter the United States using this electronic authorization. Upon landing on the country, authorities may once again check whether your entry poses any security or safety concerns, and if they find your entry a risk, they have the right to deny your entry.

What is the validity of a United States electronic system for travel authorization (ESTA)?

The validity of a United States ESTA is two years after its issuance or until the expiry of the passport, whichever comes first. These are actually multiple entry visas, and it will allow you to stay in the country for a maximum period of 90 days per entry.

Note: Getting an ESTA does not mean that the foreign national has the right to stay in the United States for two years. It only allows the traveler to stay in the country under the rules of visa waiver program, and the maximum duration of stay per entry is 90 days.

What are the criteria that my passport should meet to get an ESTA?

The foreign national should hold a valid electronic passport, equipped with a digital chip containing biometric information, and it should also display the universal e-passport symbol on the front cover. The traveler should make sure that the passport has at least six months validity and two blank pages for visa stamping. If your passport has less than six months validity, you should renew your passport before applying for a United States ESTA.

I am a citizen of United Kingdom who holds a dual passport. What are the things to take care while applying for an ESTA?

If you hold a dual United Kingdom passport, you should carry the same passport which was used to obtain the ESTA. If you are carrying the secondary passport which was not used to apply the ESTA, then authorities in the United States have the right to deny your entry.

What should I do if my application to obtain an e-visa (ESTA) gets rejected by the United States authorities?

There are various reasons which may compel the authorities to deny your application for ESTA. If authorities deny your application, you can apply for a United States visitor visa, such as B-2 tourist visa, via the embassy in the traveler’s homeland.

I am a foreign national of visa waiver program country, and I also hold a citizenship in Syria. Am I eligible to apply for an ESTA?

Even though you are a national of visa waiver program country, you will not be granted dual citizenship of you hold dual nationality with countries like Syria, Iraq and Sudan.

Note: If you are a foreign national who have visited countries like Syria, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Somalia and Yemen after March 01, 2011, you will not be granted a United States ESTA.

I am a citizen of United Kingdom who possess a valid visa. Should I need to get an ESTA to visit the United States?

If you have a valid visa, you can enter the United States using that visa. Travelers visiting the United States using a valid visa do not need an ESTA to visit the country.

Can I enter United States multiple times using ESTA?

ESTA offer multiple entry privilege to foreign nationals planning to visit the United States. However, the traveler should make sure that his or her maximum duration of stay per entry is 90 days.

How much time it will take to get ESTA in my email?

In usual cases, authorities in the United States will send ESTA to your email within 48 hours. You can also apply for quick visas, and it allows you to get the electronic travel authorization within 6 hours. In order to get these quick visas, foreign nationals should pay an additional visa processing fee.

When should I apply for United States ESTA?

As United States authorities will take 48 hours to issue the ESTA, it is highly recommended to apply for this electronic authorization at least 72 hours before travel.

I am traveling to the United States with my children. Should I need to apply for an ESTA?

All children, irrespective of their age should have a passport to apply for ESTA. Foreign nationals should understand that authorities in the United States will not allow children whose names are endorsed in the parents’ passports. So, while traveling with children, please make sure that they have an unexpired individual passport.

Is ESTA required for a foreign national to enter via land?

If a foreign national is entering via land, there is no need to obtain an ESTA.

What should I do if my ESTA expires when I am inside the United States?

Expiration of ESTA while you are in the United States will not affect your departure in any manner. Once you depart from the United States, you should apply for a new ESTA from your homeland to visit the US again.

I am an Indian citizen. Am I eligible to apply for an ESTA?

India is not a country that is included in the list of visa waiver program. As a result, Indian nationals are not allowed to apply for an ESTA. If an Indian wish to visit the United States, he or she should apply for a regular tourist visa via the United States embassy.

I am a Chinese citizen who currently resides in the United Kingdom. Can I apply for an ESTA?

It should be noted that only citizens of the United Kingdom are allowed to participate in the visa waiver program. Even though you are a Chinese citizen residing in the United Kingdom, you are not eligible to apply for an ESTA.

Will I get my money back if my application to obtain an ESTA gets denied?

United States authorities are charging this fee as a processing fee to obtain an ESTA. The foreign national will not get the refund of the visa processing fee irrespective of the ESTA application outcome.