For years, visitors from certain foreign countries have been able to travel to America without first obtaining a formal Visa sticker placed in their passport. Implemented in 1998, the “Visa Waiver Program” (VWP) has allowed for visitors of several countries to come to America for tourism or business purposes for 90 days without getting a Visa devote their passport. During 2007, more than 15 million visitors from VWP countries found its way to the United States.
As of January 12, 2009 America’s new ESTA program requires Visa Waiver Program visitors coming to the U.S. for tourist or business purposes with a plane or ship to “register” online before entering america to see should they pose a police or risk of security to the U.S. ESTA is not needed for land crossings. Officials are asking that the ESTA registration be done at least 72 hours prior to leaving, but theoretically you’ll be able to register at the final minute. An ESTA Travel Authorization is free, valid for 2 2 years, and valid for multiple entries.
Here are some FAQS (FAQs) for ESTA Travel Authorization:
What Countries Come in the Visa Waiver Program?
Andorra, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the uk.
Where Do I Apply for an ESTA Travel Authorization?
An internet site, operated by the American government, is where you sign up for ESTA: esta.cbp.dhs.gov. Off-the-beaten-path travel submit via the computer is weighed against certain American police databases and either approved or denied. Foreign travelers will never be in a position to submit ESTA applications at American airports after arriving or at a U.S. Embassy within their country.
What if I Don’t Have Plans to go to the U.S. Yet?
VWP travelers are not necessary to have specific plans to go to america before they make an application for an ESTA Travel Authorization. The moment VWP travelers begin to plan a trip to go to the U.S., they are encouraged to apply for travel authorization through the ESTA website. Applicants aren’t required to update their destination addresses or itineraries if they change after their ESTA Travel Authorization has been granted.
Does the ESTA Travel Authorization Guarantee Entry to the U.S.?
An ESTA Travel Authorization only authorizes a traveler to board an airline or ship for travel to the U.S. beneath the Visa Waiver Program. Once they arrive, travelers who obtained an ESTA Travel Authorization may still be denied entry (also called “admission”) at a U.S. port of entry, such as an American airport. An approved ESTA is not a warranty of admissibility at an American airport. In all cases, the American airport officers make the ultimate determination whether a foreign traveler can enter the U.S. or not. You still have to establish to the satisfaction of the inspecting officer you are eligible for be admitted to the U.S. beneath the Visa Waiver Program.
MAY I Change My Travel Itinerary?
You’ll be able to change an itinerary on a preexisting ESTA Travel Authorization; ESTA was created to be able to update parts of it anytime. Travelers who did not get an ESTA approval may be denied boarding by the airlines, experience delayed processing, or be denied admission to the U.S. at the American airport.
