Visiting the USA? Here’s The ESTA Guide You Need

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ESTA To Do List | Jargon Buster | Common Questions | Useful Links & More Info | Infographic

Are you travelling to the USA anytime soon? If you are, you should know about ESTA. In a nutshell, ESTA is the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation. It’s a simple online process that lets you know in advance whether you’re eligible to travel to the USA without a Visa under the Visa Waiver Program. An approved ESTA is required for most cases of travelling into the USA via plane or ship.

Sound complicated? Not to worry, here’s everything you need to know about ESTA and travelling to the USA.

ESTA application to do list

1. Apply online for your ESTA via the official ESTA site, here. Do this up to 72 hours before you travel. If it’s already closer to travel time than that, do it right away.
2. Once applied, make a note of your application number so you can check back or update any information.
3. Pay the ESTA fees. This is $14 for a successful application but only $4 if you’re rejected.
4. Check your application status, you can do this on the official site under the “Check Existing Application” button. It can take up to 72 hours for a decision to be made but it seems that most are made very quickly and sometimes instantly.
5. Make a note of  your reference number and if your airline requires the printed page, print out the successful application page.

ESTA Jargon Buster

ESTA

Simply stands for Electronic System for Travel Authorisation. It’s simply the process of applying to see if you’re eligible to travel to the USA without having to get a Visa which is a much longer process. This is known as travelling under the Visa Waiver Program.

Visa Waiver Program

This is simply the system by which people can travel to the USA without a Visa. Getting a Visa is a much longer process and for the sake of a two week holiday to Florida, is overkill most of the time. This is where ESTA comes in handy. This is the full list of countries in the Visa Waiver Program..

I-94W Form

This a green piece of paper that before ESTA, you had to fill out on the plane as you neared the USA. This no longer required and has for the most part been replaced by the ESTA system. With the I-94W form, travellers would only find out if they’re eligible to enter the States without a Visa once they’ve already landed, which can mean a wasted trip and lots of money down the drain. With ESTA, travellers know quickly and well in advance. The only time you might still need the I-94W form, is when entering the states via a land border with Mexico or Canada without an approved ESTA.

ESTA Common Questions

Do I need an ESTA?

Ask yourself these questions:

• Are you a UK Citizen or a citizen of a country that participates in the Visa Waiver Program? Full list of Visa Waiver Program countries here.
• Are you travelling for 90 days or less and for business or pleasure?
• Are you going to be arriving in the USA via plane or ship?

If you answered yes to all these questions, then yes, you need an ESTA.

How much does it cost?

An approved ESTA application will set you back $14. If you’re rejected, you’ll only be charged $4 which is just the fee for applying.

How do I apply for ESTA?

You can only apply online. The official ESTA site is here. If you Google ESTA, you’ll see many sites claiming to handle the process for you, avoid these and only use the official site. These sites do the same thing you’ll do but they charge you for it.

Do ESTAs expire?

Yes, they expire either 2 years from when granted, or when your passport expires. Whichever comes first. Once they expire they cannot be renewed, you have to reapply for a new one.

I’ve got a new passport, do I need a new ESTA?

Yes you need to reapply, ESTAs expire after 2 years of approval or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.

How do I check if my ESTA has expired?

If you’ve previously had an ESTA and want to check when it expires, you can do this under the Check Existing Application button on the official ESTA site. If it has expired it can’t be renewed and you must apply for a new one.

I’ve applied and been rejected, what now?

If you’re rejected, you’ll have to apply for the relevant Visa via the US Embassy, here.

How long do ESTA applications take?

The guidelines say ESTA applications can take up to 72 hours. This is the safest way to do it, well before you’ll be travelling to be safe.

I’ve not applied for an ESTA and am about to travel

If you’re about to travel to the USA and haven’t applied for your ESTA, do it literally right now, here. While applications can take up to 72 hours, it seems that most are done within a few hours to instantly.

Once I’ve applied, what then?

Once you’re approved, make a note of the reference number or simply print out the page. ESTA applications aren’t emailed to you so this way makes life easier. This print out of your approved ESTA is also required by some airlines when checking-in. If you didn’t do this when you applied, you can still get this information under the “Check Existing Application” button on the official ESTA site.

How do I check my application after I’ve applied?

You can check the status of your application on the official ESTA site under the Check Existing Application button. You’ll be asked for your name, passport number and date of birth to verify who you are.

Useful Links & More Information

• Apply for your ESTA
• Check your ESTA status
• ESTA FAQs
• MoneySavingExpert on ESTAs
• The Post Office on ESTAs

About the author: Luke Guy

Luke’s passion for giving customers what they want is evident in his specialised consumer advice blogs. He’s always looking for the next piece of advice to give travellers.