Important Aspects of ESTA Visa Application

by Kevin Smith Author

For the member of the visa waiver program, it is no brainer to travel to the USA by applying for the ESTA visa application process. ESTA is an online process designed for travelers who are visiting USA. Whether you are a traveler or visiting for a business trip, you need to apply for an ESTA application. The visa waiver program is an agreement which allows the citizens of 38 countries to apply for the ESTA. The process is easy because it can be filled in and submitted online. It is not time-consuming as the applicant receive the response within 24 hours.

Apart from these, there are certain aspects of the visa waiver program which can create confusion so as a traveler, it is necessary to understand these aspects to avoid any confusion when traveling.

Valid for two years:

Once you fill the online ESTA application, you will get a confirmation email. It will inform you about your application status along with how long your ESTA is valid. It is exactly two years from the date of approval but if your passport's expiry date falls under those years then, your ESTA is valid until that date only. As the ESTA is directly connected to the passport details used for filling in the application form. It is usually easy to apply for the ESTA but, one must make sure that their passport should be valid for the two years, for the sake of convenience.

90 days of Travel Time:

ESTA comes with a 90-days travel timer which begins whenever you travel to the USA. Therefore, you must never outstay your travel, if you do so, you might not get re-entry to the USA. If you expect to spend more than 90 days, you must apply for a US visa instead of ESTA. One must be aware that the US Border Patrol agent will seize if it looks like you are breaching the conditions of the visa waiver program.

ESTA is not a visa:

Due to the visa waiver program, the ESTA is not a type of visa. When you receive ESTA approval, it means you are being approved to travel to the USA without the need of a visa. The ESTA is an electronic system for travel authorization which is an automated vetting process, whereas a US visa is a different sort of travel authorization, which is a lengthier and, costlier procedure.

Apply for a visa even if you are not approved:

ESTA has nothing to do with a US visa when it does not come under that category. When you get unapproved for an ESTA application, it means the waiver program is not applicable for you. It doesn't mean you cannot apply for a US visa as there is a chance to apply for visa application.

That's why it is always a good idea to choose ESTA apply as soon as you plan your trip. But, if you are not traveling for a long period of time or get unapproved, you should apply for a visa application.

ESTA is for tourism or business travel:

The visa waiver program or ESTA allows the citizens to travel for the purpose of business or for vacations. Apart from that, the citizens can travel for short-term medical treatment or to attend academic courses. The citizen should clear up about what they mean by business travel.

All these clarifications will help you understand better about ESTA application or visa waiver program and US visa. It helps you determine whether you should apply for ESTA for your travel needs. It is also advisable to apply for ESTA as soon as you plan your trip.