Today I present the tutorial on Cóhow to obtain the ESTA that allows you to travel as a tourist to the USA no visa required for those paívisa waiver program.
The dreamñor to visit the USA It is shared by many travelers around the world. Fortunately, For citizens of certain Países, this dreamño It can come true in a máIt's simple thanks to the Waiver ProgramóVisa number (Visa Waiver Program about VWP) and the Electronic Systemónothing para la AuthorizationóTrip No. (Electronic System for Travel Authorization o ESTA).
The Waiver Programón Visa allows citizens of designated nations to travel to the USA for tourism or business for stays of up to 90 díace without needing to obtain a visa. This initiative seeks to facilitate short-term tripsón between the United States and paípeople with a history of low immigration and security risk.
Traveling with ESTA to the United States
ESTA is the automated system in línea that the government of the USA used to determine the eligibility of visitors who wish to enter the país under the VWP. In essence, ESTA is an authorizationóelectric trip numberóinformation that eligible travelers must obtain before beginning their trip to the United States.
The main advantage of traveling to the United States with an authorizationón THIS is the significant simplificationón of the process comparedón with the application for a traditional visa. The trávisa limit can be más complex, often requires an interview at the US embassy or consulate. UU., and the waiting time for obtaining itón can be considerably larger. By contrast, the approval processóESTA number is usually much moreás ráI ask, realizedágoing in the majoríof the cases in questionón of minutes u hours, although it is always recommended to apply well in advance.óon the trip.
In this complete tutorial I am going to tell you all the details you should know, if you are part of the paíits exceptionsóvisa number, to obtain it without complications step by step.
¿Whaté is the ESTA and whoén need it?
The Electronic Systemónothing para la AuthorizationóTrip No. (THIS) is a system in líautomated line operated by the Office of Customs and Protectionón United States border (CBP). Its functionóThe main objective is to determine whether the citizens of the countriesís that participate in the Waiver ProgramóVisa holders are eligible to travel to the United States without needing a visa. The ESTA evaluationúto the informationón provided by the applicant to determine if the trip represents anyún risk to the national security or compliance with the laws of the United States.
It is essential to understand that an authorizationón This approved ESTA is not a visa. It does not grant the same rights or meet the legal or regulatory requirements as a US visa when it is required underúin the legislationóUS No.. UU. Therefore, if you knowótravel location or durationón of his stateía in the United States do not conform to the téterms of the Waiver ProgramóVisa number, or if you are not a citizen of a countryís participant, dutyá Apply for the appropriate visa at a US embassy or consulate. UU.
Obligationsón to obtain an authorizationón THIS falls primarily on travelers who intend toón to enter the United States without a visa under the Waiver ProgramóVisa number for vía aéarea or seaíteam. Nevertheless, from the 1 October 2022, This demand was extendedó to all VWP travelers planning to enter the US. UU. overland, sea and air.
To be eligible to apply for an ESTA, travelers must be citizens or eligible nationals of a countryís to participate in the Waiver ProgramóVisa number. Además, at the time of application, they should not be in possessionón of a visitor visa váfight for the USA. Your trip must have a durationón of 90 díor less and carried out for business or pleasure purposes. If you meet these initial criteria, The next step is to check if your paíS of Citizenía is among the list of nations eligible for the VWP.
Paíare eligible for ESTA (Waiver ProgramóVisa number)
Currently, the Waiver Programón Visa allows citizens of 42 paíyou travel to the USA no need for a visa for short stays.2 It is important to note that this list may be subject to change., so it is always recommended to verify the informationón más recent on the official ESTA website. Nextón, a list of the paíare eligible for ESTA:
| País | País | País | País |
| Andorra | Australia | Austria | Bélogic |
| Brunei | Chile | Croatia | RepúCzech war |
| Denmark | Estonia | Finland | France |
| Germany | Greece | Hungría | Iceland |
| Ireland | Israel | Italy | Japón |
| South Korea | Latvia | Liechtenstein | Lithuania |
| Luxembourg | Malta | Mówhy | Paílow ses |
| New Zealand | Norway | Poland | Portugal |
| San Marino | Singapore | Slovakia | Slovenia |
| España | Sweden | Switzerland | Taiwán |
| United Kingdom | Qatar | Uruguay (próximly) |
Although the citizensíto one of these países is a fundamental requirement, There are certain restrictions based on travel history and dual nationality that mayíaffect ESTA eligibility. For instance, the citizens of paíVWP members who have traveled or been present in Irán, Irak, North Korea, Sudán, Syria, Libya, Somalia and Yemen from 1 march 2011, or in Cuba from 12 of January of 2021, couldístill not eligible for ESTA.
similarly, the citizens of países of the VWP that alsoén they are citizens of Cuba, the RepublicúPopular Democratic Warákorean ethic, Andán, Irak, Sudán or Syria are also not eligible to obtain authorizationón THIS. It is important to note that there are limited exceptions for trips made for diploma purposes.átics or soldiers in the service of a countryíwith del VWP.
Además of these general restrictions, there are specific requirementsífics for certain países. For instance, to be eligible under the VWP, british citizensáIndividuals must have the unrestricted right of permanent residence in the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Gales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man). in addition, the citizens of Curaçao, Bonaire, Saint Eustace, Saba and San Martín (the former Netherlands Antilles) are not eligible to travel to the United States under the VWP if they apply for admissionón with passports of these countriesíses. Finally, it is importantñalar that, as of recent dates, New ESTA applications for citizens of Brunei and Hungaryíto use their respective passports have a període of validity limited to añO. In the case of Hungaryía, validity is from one toñor and for single use.
Step by Step Process to apply for ESTA:
The process to request an authorizationón THIS is completely in línea and consists of several steps that must be followed carefully:
- Paso 1: Access the Official Website: The first and más crucial step is to access the official website of the Electr Systemónothing para la AuthorizationóTrip No.: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/. This is the úonly legitimate websiteíscam to make the request and it is essential to use it to protect your information.ón personal information and avoid possible fraud or unnecessary charges from unofficial websites.
- Paso 2: Complete the Application Form: Once on the official website, dutyá click the botón «Apply» (Apply for) to start a new request. You can choose between an individual request or a group request if you are traveling with más people. The form will ask youá that provides informationón biographyástay básica, including your full name, passport details, informationócontact number and your travel plans. It is of utmost importance that the informationón you enter matches exactly what appears on your passport. Spaghettién dutyá enter your informationón personal, like your addressóaddress number andútel grouperéphone , así how to informón about your trip, including a point of contact in the United States (and apply). If you do not have a specific point of contactífico, can you provide the name and addressón of your accommodation. The form alsoén introduce youá a series of eligibility questions related to your health, criminal records and other relevant matters, which dutyá respond truthfully and accurately. Any informationón false u omitted rotteníTo result in the denialón of your ESTA or in trouble entering the United States. Total, se le haarán nine security questions. Además, needá provide an addressóemail numberónico inálida, which mustá check during the process. It is possible that alsoéthey are not asked for informationón about your current or previous employer, así such as the contact details of a person who can be contacted in an emergency. Depending on your situationón, spaghettiécan'títo require informationóadditional n, like their aliases or previous names, his núidentification groupón national or personal, or his núidentification groupóh the Globeg of Gregument/ Noe nuane/trians. (if you have it).
- Paso 3: Review and Confirm the Request: Before submitting your application, It is crucial that you thoroughly review all information.ón you have provided to ensure it is completely accurate. Including a simple typographical erroráI'm rottenícause problems in the processing of your ESTA. It is important to know that, before submitting the application and making the payment, can correct all data fields, with the exceptionón of núpassport grouper, the país passport issuer, the paíS of Citizenía and date of birth. If you make a mistake in any of these fields críticos, dutyá submit a new application.
- Paso 4: Make Payment: Once you have reviewed and confirmed that all the informationón is correct, dutyá proceed to pay the ESTA application fee. This is done inínea using a credit cardésaid the désmall (MasterCard is accepted, VISA, American Express, Discover, JCB y Diners Club) o a través from PayPal. The fee covers the costs of processing your application. It is important to remember that payment should not be made until the application isé complete and ready to be sent.
- Paso 5: Wait for approvalón: Afterés to submit your request and make payment, in the majoría of the cases, receiveá an answer almost immediately. Nevertheless, the approval processóIt can take up to 72 hours. Possible responses to your request are: You approveón, DenialóNo. Pending Reviewón Additional. If your application is pending, dutyá check your statusás late on the ESTA website. It is recommendedáethically make the request at least 72 hours before the scheduled date of your trip to the United States. Once you sendíand your request, will be providedá a núrequest grouper, which alsoéwill not be sent to youá by emailónico. It is essential that you record this numberúmero, since you need itá to check the status of your request or to make any updates.ón future.
- Paso 6: Check ESTA Status: To check the status of your ESTA application, you can go back to the official website and click on the optionón «Check ESTA Status» (Check ESTA status). You will be askedá enter your numberúapplication form and your passport details. To check individual status, you can enter your numberúpassport grouper, date of birth andúrequest grouper, and with paíS of Citizenía, EMISI Dateópassport number and passport expiration date. If your application is approved, receiveá a confirmationón de authorizationón. It is advisable to print a copy of this confirmationón and take it with you when traveling, although the immigration authoritiesóUS No.. UU. spaghettién tenderán access to this informationón electróonly.
ESTA eligibility requirements and criteria:
In order to request and obtain an authorizationón THIS, Travelers must meet a number of requirements and eligibility criteria established by the United States government:
- The applicant must be a citizen or eligible national of a countryís to participate in the Waiver ProgramóVisa number.
- At the time of application, the traveler must not be in possessionón of a visitor visa váleave for the United States.
- The nearóTravel location must be for business or pleasure, and the durationóstate no.ía in the United States should not exceed 90 días.
- ESTA is not válido for stays málong or for their ownódifferent sites, how to study or work in the United States
- The traveler must have a passportáid that has been legally issued by a countryís of the Waiver ProgramóVisa number.
- The passport must be an electronic passportóNico O «e-Passport», which means that it must contain a digital chip with informationón biomeéowner's trick. This requirement is essential for the security of the program.
- The passport tooén must have a mechanical reading areaáunique in the pápage where the information is foundón biographyástays with the holder.
- Usually, It is recommended that the passport have a validity of at least six months Más allá of the planned date of departure from the United States. Nevertheless, There are agreements with many countriesíses that exempt from this requirement, so it is advisable to check the specific regulationsístay for your paíS of Citizenía.
- It is required to have a return or continuation ticket.ón of travel outside the United States.
- Upon arrival at the United States port of entry, the traveler must satisfactorily demonstrate to the Customs and Protection officerón Border who is entitled to be admitted under the Waiver Programón of Visa and that it is not inadmissible according toún the Immigration Lawón and US Nationality. UU.
- During the inspection processón upon arrival in the United States, the traveler's dutyá reaffirm, through the presentationón of biom identifierséTricos (such as fingerprints and photographías).
Other factors that couldístill result in denialóns of the ESTA include having had a refusalóESTA prior n, visa or entry to the United States, have stayed más time than allowed in a previous visit under the VWP, have a criminal record that represents a security threatública, or suffer from a contagious disease. Finally, ESTA is not appropriate for people who plan to work as a foreign press or seek permanent residence in the United States.
ESTA application fees and costs
The request for an authorizationón ESTA isá associated with a rate. Currently, The total cost to apply for ESTA is $21.00 USD per person.
This fee is made up of a processing charge $4.00 USD applied to all requests and an authorization feeón of $17.00 USD that is charged only if the request is approved.
It is crucial to know that a processing fee applies. $4.00 USD even if your ESTA application is denied. This means that, regardless of the outcome of your application, you will be chargedá a smallñat a fee for processing it.
It is advised that you exercise cautionón with third-party websites that offer ESTA application assistance and charge additional fees for their services. There is only one official website to apply for ESTA, and these third party companies are notán operating on behalf of the United States government. If they charge you más de $21.00 USD for your ESTA, it is very likely that it isé using an unofficial website.
Validate an authorizationón IS approved
Once your ESTA application is approved, la authorizationón of travel is generally válida by a períear from two toñfrom the approval dateón or until the expiration date of your passport, whichever happens first. This means that, Within this perívalidity odo, can perform múmultiple trips to the United States without the need to request a new authorizationón THIS, as long as your passport remains váid and there have been no changes in your answers to the eligibility questions.
The confirmation screenón from approveón of your ESTA showá the expiration date of your authorizationóno of travel. It is important to note that if your passport expires in less than two toños, are authorizationsón THIS alone beá vástay until the expiration date of your passport.
It is important to remember that, si bien una authorizationón ESTA approval allows travel to the USA under the Waiver ProgramóVisa number, each individual visit isá limited to a stateía máxima de 90 días.
Finally, It is crucial to keep in mind that a new authorizationón THIS will beá required if you obtain a new passport, change your name, sex or citizenía, or if the answers to any of the VWP eligibility questions have changed since your úlast request. in addition, once your authorizationócurrent trip number expires, dutyás apply for a new one if you plan to travel to the United States under the VWP in the future.
Common mistakes you should avoid when applying for ESTA:
When completing the ESTA application, it is crucial to pay attentionón to the details to avoid mistakes that couldístill result in denialón de la authorizationóno of travel. Some of the errors MáCommon things to avoid include:
- Typographical errorsálet me knowón incomplete: AssegúBe sure to carefully review each field of the form, especially his name, date of birth andúpassport grouper. A simple typographical erroráfico can cause problems.
- InformationóIncorrect n on eligibility questions: Answer all questions honestly and accurately. Provide informationón false or omitting relevant details can have negative consequences.
- Passport data errors: Verify that the núpassport grouper, the date of issueón and expiration date you enter are correct and exactly match the informationón that appears on your passport.
- Not having an electronic passportónico inálido: AssegúMake sure your passport is a «e-Passport» with the required digital chip. Passports that do not meet this requirement are not válidos for the Waiver ProgramóVisa number.
- Request too late: Don't wait until úLast minute to apply for your ESTA. It is recommended to do so as soon as you have your travel plans defined and, a ningún Case, less than 72 hours before your departure.
- Payment problems: AssegúI know that the credit cardésaid the débito you use for payment is válida, have enough funds and that the informationón of billingón that you provide is correct. Spaghettién verify that payments in línea isén enabled for your card.
- Do not check the application before sending it: TóTake the time necessary to review all the informationón you entered before clicking the botón of sendingíO. This will allow youá Identify and correct any errors you may have made.
- Misinterpreting questions about travel to paíyou are restricted: Carefully read the questions related to your previous trips to paíyou are like Cuba, Andán, Irak, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudán y Yemen, and secureúmake sure you answer them correctlyún the specified dates.
- Do not verify the addressóemail numberónico: Follow the instructions to verify your addressóemail numberóunique during the application process. Not doing it couldíto delay or prevent the receiptón de informationóImportant information about your ESTA.
- Try to correct non-editable fields laterés del envíO: Remember that you cannotá correct the núpassport grouper, the país issuer, the citizenía or date of birth once you have submitted your application. Yes cometsó an error in one of these fields, dutyá submit a new application.
Obtain an authorizationón ESTA is a fundamental step for eligible citizens of the countriesícesses of the Waiver ProgramóVisa number who wish to travel to the USA for tourism or business for one stateíto from to 90 díace without needing a visa. The application process is done entirely online.ínea and, although it is relatively simple, requires attentionóCareful attention to detail to avoid errors that may cause delays or denialón de la authorizationón.
It is extremely important to always use the official ESTA website (https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/) to make your request and avoidí Possible fraud or paying unnecessary fees to third-party websites. Before starting, asegúbe sure to check if your paíS of Citizenía is within the list of nations eligible for the VWP and if it meets all the requirements and eligibility criteria.
Finally, It is strongly recommended to request your authorization.ón ESTA as soon as you start planning your trip to the United States, and ideally, with sufficient advance noticeón on the date of your departure. Apply earlyón give youá the peace of mind of having your authorizationón trip in order and allow youá address any potential issues that may arise during the application process.
¡Have a good trip! Any questions, I read them in the comments.
