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The United
States Visa Waiver Program and ESTA |
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| New U.S. Entry Requirement Starting 12 JAN
2010 |
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Starting on January 12, 2010, any person entering the United States under the
visa waiver program is required to be pre-approved to enter the country. This
new requirement has caused a lot of confusion among travelers. Due to the lack
of information about ESTA, many travelers have
been victimized by fraudulent websites posing as official websites. The only way
to know that your application have been approved to enter the United States is
to submit your own application. Applicants should first download the
ESTA
Application Guide and follow the application instructions carefully, before
submitting the application, as an incomplete or incorrect application might
result in denial of entry into the United States. |
What is ESTA?
ESTA stands for Electronic System for Travel Authorization. ESTA is an online
application system developed by the United States government to pre-screen
travelers before they are allow to board an airplane or ship bound for the
United States.
How long does it take to apply for ESTA?
The ESTA online application form
takes between 5 and 10 minutes to complete. Upon submitting your application,
you will know within seconds if you are pre-approved to travel to the United
States. Any person who is denied, must apply for a United States visitor visa,
such as a B-1 Business or a B-2 Tourist visa.
Who needs to apply for ESTA?
Any person who wants to enter the
United States (by air or sea) under the
visa waiver program.
What is the visa waiver program?
The visa waiver program is a U.S. government program that enables citizens and
nationals from 35 countries to enter the United States for business or visitor
purposes for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa. The advantage of entering
the United States under the
visa waiver program is that you can travel to the
United States on short notice without obtaining a visa.
What countries are included the visa waiver program?
The following countries are part of the visa waiver program: Andorra, Australia,
Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,
Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway,
Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, United Kingdom.
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How to Apply for
ESTA |
Follow these 3 easy steps to apply for your ESTA number.
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▶ STEP 1: Download the
ESTA Application
Guide
▶ STEP 2: Submit Your Application Online and Receive the ESTA Number
Instantly
▶ STEP 3: Travel to the United States
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IMPORTANT: If you already have an approved
ESTA number, you must update
it every time you travel to the United States. Download the
ESTA Travel Authorization Guide for additional
information.
LANGUAGES: This page is available in English,
German, French and
Italian for your convenience. |
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