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Factors to Consider When Applying for USA ESTA

by Kevin Smith Author

There are a number of factors that everyone traveling from a Visa Waiver Program country should know before applying for an ESTA visa. The Visa Waiver Program was introduced with an aim to promote visa-free travel to the USA by the foreign citizens of the nations that pose no significant threat on the citizens and security of the USA. Although, the citizens of the participant countries are required to obtain an electronic authorization in the form of ESTA to determine their eligibility and get their frequently asked questions about the Visa Waiver Program answered. Obtaining an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) is not that difficult if the applicants from the eligible countries meet the necessary requirements. However, if the applicants fail to meet these requirements, not only will they be denied the ESTA USA, but also, they will sabotage their chances to travel to the USA in the future.

REQUIREMENTS

Before the applicants embark upon the process of ESTA USA application, they must be prepared with all the necessary documents to avoid any last minute hassle. One of the most important documents that all ESTA applicants must possess is e-passport. It is easy to determine whether it is an e-passport or not by just checking the international symbol on the passport cover along with an electronic chip. Apart from this, there is a requirement of a photograph, recent employment information, and a debit or credit card.

ELIGIBILITY

Only those foreign nationals who stand eligible under the Visa Waiver Program can get ESTA USA approval, and rest get a denial. The ESTA eligibility criteria state that the planned visit of the ESTA visa holder should be less than ninety days. Also, the applicant must not have been denied the entry or a USA visa in the past and should not be a holder of a visitor’s visa. Only those foreign nationals can be granted ESTA whose purpose of travel is either tourism or business.

APPLICATION

Most people believe that if they are denied USA ESTA, then it is because they have some insignificant history that the USA government finds unfavorable for the security of its nation and its residents. However, in most cases, the denial is due to errors being committed by the applicants while filling the application form. Sometimes, even simple typing errors can result in ESTA visa denials like inputting incorrect passport number or spelling mistake. Applicants who provide incorrect or ambiguous answers to the questions asked in the application akin to communicable diseases and criminal records, tend to invite ESTA visa denial. As per ESTA visa guidelines, foreign nationals from the eligible countries suffering from a communicable disease such as HIV, AIDS, HEP C, etc., cannot get an entry in the USA. And those applicants who have committed serious crimes in the past like rape, murder, etc. and have been imprisoned for the same, will be denied ESTA visa.

Although the foregoing factors provide a clear idea of the areas where there is a need to be careful while applying for an USA ESTA, there still exit possibilities of entry refusal with the possession of a valid ESTA. Many times this happens due to some problems with the paperwork and can only be dealt with cooperative behavior with the officials.

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About Kevin Smith Senior   Author

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Joined APSense since, December 7th, 2016, From Utah, United States.

Created on Jul 23rd 2019 05:22. Viewed 190 times.

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