The US government’s Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) program allows citizens of 38 countries to enter the United States without a visa. To apply, you need proof that you are a citizen of one of these 38 European Union member states or Switzerland.
This includes countries such as Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, and the UK. Citizens of other countries may also be eligible for this status if they can show that their home country has an ESTA agreement with the U.S., but those details vary by country.
Filing your ESTA application
You must have an active passport for this, which means it hasn’t expired or been revoked. You should also bring photo ID that shows your date of birth. If you don’t have any of these things, you’ll need to go somewhere to get them done. The simplest option is to visit a local agency in your home country that specializes in renewing passports and IDs. They can do so in about two hours or less.
If you want to file online, you can use the online ESTA portal on the Department of Homeland Security website. You will need to create a user account before you can begin filing.
To set up your account, click “Create Your Account” at the top right corner of the page. Then fill out all of the required fields under “User Account Setup.” You will then see a screen asking you “Please select your country of citizenship.” Click the arrow next to each country in turn until you find the one that you entered when you signed up for the account. Finally, click “Next Step” and complete the rest of the account setup. You may now start filing your ESTA application.
When you first log into the ESTA portal, you will be prompted to verify your identity. This is done through fingerprints and a facial scan. Once that is done, you will see a welcome message saying, “What’s your purpose for visiting the U.S.?” Select your answer from the drop-down menu. For example, if you plan to study at a school in the U.S., choose “Study.”
On the next screen, you will be asked to specify how long you intend to stay in the U.S. For most people, the default answer is “6 months or less.” However, you can change this to “12 months or more” if you wish. You will then be shown a map showing where you live and where you intend to travel during your trip. Next, you will be asked to list any pets you have. You will then be asked to provide information about your family members living back home, including names, ages, relationship to you, and whether or not they are U.S. citizens.
For each person listed, you will be asked to give their full name, address, date of birth, place of birth, gender, passport number, and nationality. After doing so, you will be asked to provide the last four digits of their Social Security number. When completing each section, you will have the option of entering your answers using your computer keyboard or scanning your fingerprint into the system. There is no way to import data from another source.
Finally, you will be asked to indicate whether you have ever visited the U.S. and what type of visa you used. There is a check box for each of these questions, meaning you can choose to leave some of the questions blank if you have already answered them elsewhere in the process.
Once you are finished filling out your profile, you will receive an approval notice. If everything looks good, you will be directed to the payment screen. Here you will be given the option to pay by credit card or wire transfer. A credit card charge will take roughly three days to appear in your bank account. Wire transfers will come directly from the U.S. Treasury Department and typically take five to seven business days to arrive.
If a person is planning to fill the esta from then h can do it through the online mode. By visiting the online site a person can easily fill the form and get the detail. The main thing for the people is to get good results. As the time will pass the person will get the form and he can be on the foreign city in the future.
Filling out the I-94 waiver request form
After arriving at a U.S. port of entry, you will be asked to fill out the I-94 waiver request form. As soon as you enter the U.S., you will be handed a copy of this form. When you get it, make sure you keep both copies—one for yourself and one for the customs officer who processed you. It is likely you won’t have access to an envelope while in line, so you should carry it in your hand.
Fill out the form carefully and completely. It contains several spaces where you need to write down your answers to certain questions. Keep in mind that all documents you submit to the customs office must match what you wrote on your I-94 waiver request form. You should also ask the border guard to stamp the form with his or her signature.
You should expect to spend about 15 minutes filling out this form. However, you should allow about 30 minutes because there may be additional questions you need to answer. In addition, you might run into situations where the border agent needs more time to review your paperwork. The best thing to do is to remain calm and patient while you wait.
Getting your ESTA authorization letter
After clearing U.S. Customs, you will be sent to an immigration counter. The officers there will tell you to wait in line to get your ESTA authorization letter. This will require you to wait about 10 to 15 minutes. When you get to the window, you will be asked to fill out a few forms, including one stating that you understand the ESTA requirements and agree to abide by them. You will then be told that you can either print out your authorization letter or pick up a hard copy at the counter.
Keep in mind that the officer at the window doesn’t know who you are or why you’re applying for ESTA. All he or she knows is that you were cleared by U.S. Customs and that you are a citizen of one of the 38 countries participating in the program. So, act naturally and politely.
As soon as you receive your ESTA authorization letter, you can proceed to the airport. However, it is important to note that the ESTA authorization does not guarantee admission to the U.S. Instead, it only grants travelers permission to enter the country. To gain admittance, travelers still need to complete the immigration process at the airport. That is why you should keep your ESTA authorization letter handy while you wait for your flight to board.
