If you are planning on traveling to the United States, then it’s essential that you know how to apply for an ESTA Visa. The Electronic System Travel Authorization is a way to get around having a passport or getting a visa before leaving your home country.
The ESTA allows you to travel from any country in the world without having to apply for a visa and you can do this whether you’re going by air or land. However, there are certain countries where you will need to get a visa. These include China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan and Syria. If you’re flying into one of these countries and applying for an ESTA, you won’t be able to board your flight until you have either already been granted entry to the United States or have received confirmation that your ESTA has been approved.
So, if you’re living in the United States and want to visit another country, such as Mexico, Canada or Europe, then you’ll need to apply for an ESTA so that you can fly to those destinations without having to obtain a visa first.
As with all things concerning travel, it’s important that you read up on the details so that you know what to expect when you arrive at the airport. Otherwise, you could be left waiting for hours, only to find out that you’ve missed your flight because you didn’t understand the rules!
To help you prepare for your trip, here’s everything you need to know about the ESTA Visa application process.
What does the ESTA Visa allow?
The Electronic System Travel Authorization is a program that was created by the U.S Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It started in 2006 and since then over 400 million people have used their ESTA.
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Essentially, the ESTA allows citizens of most countries to enter the United States with no visa needed. This means that even if you have never visited the U.S., you can still go through the ESTA application process. You simply have to provide some information about yourself, including your name, date of birth, address and phone number. Once this information has been provided, the DHS will check to see if you meet certain requirements.
These requirements are that you have not traveled outside of the United States within the last five years (unless you were visiting friends or family) and that you don’t plan on doing so in the future. In addition, you cannot be subject to a criminal conviction or pending charges in any court.
When you are cleared to enter the United States, you will receive an email confirming your decision. If you have passed all the checks, then you can proceed to the airport and fly to the destination of your choice.
Who needs it?
Many travelers use the ESTA. According to a study conducted by the Center for Immigration Studies, more than four-fifths of the world’s population can benefit from the ESTA. This includes approximately 75 percent of Americans and 60 percent of Canadians. That makes the ESTA particularly useful for international visitors.
In fact, the DHS estimates that almost 50 percent of foreign travelers use the ESTA. And many of them are students who wish to visit the U.S. for school. Other common reasons for using the ESTA include business trips and visits with friends and relatives.
What are the conditions?
There are a few other requirements that must be met before you can use the ESTA. One of these is that you must be physically present in the country that issued your passport. So, if the document that you use to identify yourself belongs to someone else, then you will need to produce a copy of that person’s ID.
Another condition is that you must be 18 years old or older. You also need to have enough money to fund your stay in the United States. Finally, you should be able to support yourself financially during your time in the country. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to have savings; rather, it means that you need to be able to earn income while you are in the United States.
Some of the other things you may need to prove are that you have a valid passport and that you haven’t tried to cross the border illegally by sneaking across the border or lying about your identity. If you try to sneak across the border, you will likely be denied entry to the United States. If you lie about your identity, you will be sent back to your country of origin.
What documents do I need?
You will need to provide several pieces of documentation to complete your ESTA application. First, you will need to submit your passport and its page containing your photo. Then you will need to provide a list of any credit cards you own and proof of ownership. Next, you will need to show evidence that you have sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay in the country. Finally, you will need to submit two forms of identification, so that they can confirm that you are who you say you are.
One of these forms will be your driver’s license, which will serve as proof of age. Another form will be a utility bill showing that you live at the address that you listed on your ESTA application. You will also need to provide a letter from your employer stating that you are authorized to work in the country in which you reside.
Once you have submitted these documents, you will receive an email confirming that all of the information has been verified. You will also be given instructions on how to pay the fee to register your ESTA. The fee is $14 and is nonrefundable.
After submitting your information, you will need to wait three days for the government to review your application. After this, you will receive an email letting you know if you have been accepted. If you have, you will need to print off copies of this email and bring them with you to the airport.
You will also need to make sure that you have enough money to cover your expenses while you are in the country. Depending on the length of your stay, this amount could run anywhere between $75 and $135.
It may seem like a lot of work, but once you do it for the first time, it will become easier each time you apply. Plus, it’s better to be safe than sorry.