ESTA wife’s or maiden’s name when filling out the form?
To travel to the USA under the Visa Waiver Program, you need to apply for ESTA by filling in an online form. This can be done online via the official U.S. government website, or via a specialized private website. Before submitting your application, be sure to check all the information, including your identity and passport details. It is essential that the ESTA data is identical to your passport data, which must be electronic or biometric. Once you’ve submitted your application, you won’t be able to make any changes, apart from your e-mail address and the address of your accommodation in the USA. Keeping in mind the importance of matching information, one question still remains: whether to enter the married name or the maiden name.
Why is it important to check the data on your ESTA form?
ESTA authorization is intrinsically linked to the passport. A new passport or a change to the passport data invalidates the current authorization. If this is your case, you will need to submit a new application. Please note that if your current passport has less than 2 years of validity remaining, the ESTA will be valid for the same period as your passport. If you have a new passport, the ESTA is valid for two years. During these two years, you can make as many visits as you like, provided they are for tourism, business travel of less than 90 days or transit on American soil.
The passport is an internationally recognized form of identification. The traveler’s identity is therefore verified by the various governments. Using passport data enables the American authorities to verify the identity of the traveler en route to the U.S. territory. Not to mention the fact that biometric passports and, to a lesser extent, e-passports offer more information. Of course, the government can’t rely on passports alone, which is why the ESTA form was introduced. Through the latter, you provide the U.S. government with all the information it needs to determine whether you represent a threat to homeland security.
The importance of matching data is reflected in the acceptance or rejection of your online application. The electronic systems will refuse an application that does not match the data on your valid passport. A simple typing error can cost you your approval.
In the field concerning the traveller’s surname, what name should be entered in the ESTA application?
Most of the fields on the ESTA application form are mandatory and must not contain any errors. It is strictly forbidden to falsify data, especially if the intention is to increase your chances of obtaining authorization. This offence may result in a permanent ban on entry to the USA. If your situation does not allow you to benefit from the travel authorization application, it is preferable to travel outside the context of the program and apply for a visa at the U.S. consulate or embassy. Please note that there is a U.S. visa for every reason for travel, so make sure you present the right file to the consular services.
When filling out your Visa Waiver Program application form, please note that the surname you must include in your application is the surname on your passport. Vice versa, it’s important to check that the name in your passport is the same as the one on your travel authorization application form. The same rule applies to married women. If your passport shows your maiden and married names, you must give both names. If you have made a mistake in filling in your surname and have already submitted your application, you will need to renew your application. Of course, it’s possible that the local immigration officer will accept your family record book to explain the difference in names, but we think that’s a risky gamble.
