When is ESTA mandatory?
ESTA was introduced by the US government as part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). This travel authorization adds a higher level of security. It enables the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to determine whether a person is authorized to travel to the U.S. without a visa, and whether he or she poses any threat to U.S. territory.
In this article, we look at the conditions under which theESTA becomes mandatory for travelers to the USA.
ESTA authorization required What are the conditions?
ESTA authorization allows foreign nationals from certain countries to travel to the United States without having to go through the tedious formalities of a visa application.
The formalities for an ESTA application are much simpler than those for a visa, because to obtain an ESTA, all you have to do is meet the ESTA eligibility requirements and fill in the online form. The American authorities have set up this new electronic procedure in order to know in advance who is likely to endanger the security of American soil. Thanks to the online form, the authorities can scrupulously study the profiles of foreign nationals wishing to stay in the United States.
Eligibility requirements
To help you, we’ll explain the requirements for obtaining ESTA. If you meet all the conditions, then the authorization ESTA is mandatory and you won’t need to apply for a U.S. visa.
1- Temporary residence
Unlike the USA visa, with which you can stay in the USA for several years, the ESTA is for short stays only. With an ESTA, your trip to the USA must not exceed 90 days.
If your trip exceeds the 90-day limit, a visa is required.
U.S. Homeland Security is very strict about illegal immigration. If you overstay your ESTA, you will be severely penalized.
ESTAs are valid for 2 years, or until the expiry date of your passport if it expires before the ESTA date.
2- The reason for your trip to the USA
With ESTA authorization, you are not allowed to live, work or do an internship in the United States of America.
Travel authorization is mandatory for 3 reasons: tourism, business travel (conference, contract signing, training…) and transit.
3- Nationality
Only nationals of countries covered by the Visa Waiver Program are required to apply for ESTA. required to apply for ESTA.. Voici la liste des pays :
Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and United Kingdom.
4- How to enter the United States
The ESTA document is mandatory for all modes of entry into the USA: air, sea or land.
5- Passports
Finally, an ESTA application is useless if the traveler’s passport is not up to date. Before each ESTA application, check that you hold a valid biometric or electronic passport.
When an ESTA is obtained, it is electronically linked to the passport number. If your passport is about to expire, you’ll need to renew it in order to apply for a new ESTA.
If all the conditions are met, this means that you are eligible for the document and that ESTA travel authorization is required for your trip to the United States.
ESTA mandatory but advantageous
Despite its mandatory, the ESTA has many advantages over a visa.
Firstly, you can apply for an ESTA up to 72 hours before boarding your plane for the United States, which is inconceivable with a visa, which takes several weeks to get stamped in your valid passport.
Secondly, travel authorization is compulsory but accessible. ESTA costs just $21, whereas a visa costs a minimum of €185 in administrative fees.
The mandatory ESTA How to apply?
Do you have to apply for an ESTA to travel to the USA? Don’t worry, the procedure is entirely digital. To complete the application online, simply visit the official U.S. government website.
Please note that if you wish to obtain ESTA authorization in paper format, there’s no need to go to the American embassy or consulate general as is required for a visa. To obtain it in paper format, you need to fill in the form online, wait until you obtain an “authorization authorized” status from the American control systems, and then print it out.
However, ESTA authorization does not guarantee your entry into the U.S., as it is only the first stage of verification. An identity check is carried out by immigration officers on arrival.