Important Aspects of ESTA Visa Application
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.
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