ShirleyD
15-01-2010, 22:14
I know this has been mentioned before, but just thought I was pass on this info in case anyone has missed it
What is an ESTA?
An Electronic System for Travel Authorisation is an automated system used to determine the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP). Currently citizens of countries eligible for the VWP fill in a green form (I94W) while en route to the US. The ESTA will eventually replace this form. Passengers have been able to apply for an ESTA since August 2008 on a voluntary basis.
Passengers are advised to apply for an ESTA no later than 72 hours prior to departure.
You can apply for an ESTA even if you do not have a ticket booked to the US.
<span style="color:red">Do I need to apply for an ESTA?
From January 20 2010, if you are a citizen of a visa waiver country travelling to the US, you will not be accepted for travel to the US if you do not have a valid ESTA (or visa/ Green Card).
</span id="red">
How do I apply for an ESTA?
Log onto the ESTA website at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov and complete the online application form. The US Department of Homeland Security recommends that applications be submitted no less than72 hours prior to travel. In most cases you will receive a response within seconds.
Other websites offer an ESTA service but you may be charged.
What information is required for an ESTA?
The information required for an ESTA is the same as is currently required by the green visa waiter form (I94W).
The traveller must provide biographical data including name, date of birth, and passport information, as well as travel information such as the flight number and destination address in the United States. The traveller will also be required to answer VWP eligibility yes/no questions regarding communicable diseases, arrests and convictions for certain crimes, and past history of visa refusal among others.
You can apply for an ESTA even if you do not have travel booked to the US at the time of application – although you will need to keep a note of the ESTA authorisation number to fill in the flight details when the travel is booked.
We would advise customers who are likely to make trips to the US at short notice to apply for an ESTA prior to any travel being booked.
Will I still need to fill in the green visa waiver form (I94W)?
Yes, although the green visa waiver forms are expected to be phased out during 2010.
Do I need to apply for an ESTA if I have a business visa?
No. You only need apply for an ESTA if you are travelling under the visa waiver programme.
Which countries are part of the visa waiver scheme?
Andorra Iceland Norway
Australia Ireland Portugal
Austria Italy San Marino
Belgium Japan Singapore
Brunei Latvia Slovakia
Czech Republic Liechtenstein Slovenia
Denmark Lithuania South Korea
Estonia Luxembourg Spain
Finland Malta Sweden
France Monaco Switzerland
Germany the Netherlands United Kingdom
Hungary New Zealand
How far in advance can I apply for an ESTA?
VWP travellers are not required to have specific plans to travel to the United States before applying for an ESTA. The US Department of Homeland Security recommends that an ESTA approval be obtained as soon as a VWP traveller begins to plan a trip to the US and no later than 72 hours before departure.
How long is an ESTA valid?
Approved ESTA applications are valid for two years and allow for multiple trips to the US. However, a new ESTA will have to be obtained if an individual has a new passport within the two year period or if any answers to the YES/NO questions on the ESTA application form change within this period.
Do I need an ESTA even if I’m just transiting through the US?
Yes, an ESTA will be compulsory for all travel to the US from January 20, 2010.
Can I apply for an ESTA even if I have no firm plans to visit the US?
Visa Waiver Programme travellers are not required to have specific plans
What is an ESTA?
An Electronic System for Travel Authorisation is an automated system used to determine the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP). Currently citizens of countries eligible for the VWP fill in a green form (I94W) while en route to the US. The ESTA will eventually replace this form. Passengers have been able to apply for an ESTA since August 2008 on a voluntary basis.
Passengers are advised to apply for an ESTA no later than 72 hours prior to departure.
You can apply for an ESTA even if you do not have a ticket booked to the US.
<span style="color:red">Do I need to apply for an ESTA?
From January 20 2010, if you are a citizen of a visa waiver country travelling to the US, you will not be accepted for travel to the US if you do not have a valid ESTA (or visa/ Green Card).
</span id="red">
How do I apply for an ESTA?
Log onto the ESTA website at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov and complete the online application form. The US Department of Homeland Security recommends that applications be submitted no less than72 hours prior to travel. In most cases you will receive a response within seconds.
Other websites offer an ESTA service but you may be charged.
What information is required for an ESTA?
The information required for an ESTA is the same as is currently required by the green visa waiter form (I94W).
The traveller must provide biographical data including name, date of birth, and passport information, as well as travel information such as the flight number and destination address in the United States. The traveller will also be required to answer VWP eligibility yes/no questions regarding communicable diseases, arrests and convictions for certain crimes, and past history of visa refusal among others.
You can apply for an ESTA even if you do not have travel booked to the US at the time of application – although you will need to keep a note of the ESTA authorisation number to fill in the flight details when the travel is booked.
We would advise customers who are likely to make trips to the US at short notice to apply for an ESTA prior to any travel being booked.
Will I still need to fill in the green visa waiver form (I94W)?
Yes, although the green visa waiver forms are expected to be phased out during 2010.
Do I need to apply for an ESTA if I have a business visa?
No. You only need apply for an ESTA if you are travelling under the visa waiver programme.
Which countries are part of the visa waiver scheme?
Andorra Iceland Norway
Australia Ireland Portugal
Austria Italy San Marino
Belgium Japan Singapore
Brunei Latvia Slovakia
Czech Republic Liechtenstein Slovenia
Denmark Lithuania South Korea
Estonia Luxembourg Spain
Finland Malta Sweden
France Monaco Switzerland
Germany the Netherlands United Kingdom
Hungary New Zealand
How far in advance can I apply for an ESTA?
VWP travellers are not required to have specific plans to travel to the United States before applying for an ESTA. The US Department of Homeland Security recommends that an ESTA approval be obtained as soon as a VWP traveller begins to plan a trip to the US and no later than 72 hours before departure.
How long is an ESTA valid?
Approved ESTA applications are valid for two years and allow for multiple trips to the US. However, a new ESTA will have to be obtained if an individual has a new passport within the two year period or if any answers to the YES/NO questions on the ESTA application form change within this period.
Do I need an ESTA even if I’m just transiting through the US?
Yes, an ESTA will be compulsory for all travel to the US from January 20, 2010.
Can I apply for an ESTA even if I have no firm plans to visit the US?
Visa Waiver Programme travellers are not required to have specific plans