The ESTA makes it easier for you to travel to the United States. As such, it's normal to wonder whether the information you need to provide is the same as for a traditional visa. Find out everything you need to know about the American ESTA in this article.
Are you eligible for ESTA?
ESTA or Electronic System for Travel Authorization is an electronic procedure that allows people to travel to the United States without a traditional visa. This system, which has been in place for almost 10 years, is designed to alleviate the difficulties encountered by travellers in the process.
However, these provisions do not cover nationals from every country in the world. Only 38 countries benefit from this system. What's more, this visa is valid for two years. Here are the eligibility criteria for the ESTA programme:
- Be a national of one of the countries included in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).
- Be in possession of a return plane ticket.
- If you are in transit, have a ticket specifying your destination.
- Possess a biometric passport.
- Travel with an airline or ship approved by the United States.
- The stay must not exceed 90 days.
- Travelling for tourism, business or transit.
These are the criteria to consider before applying.
ESTA documents and data: differences from the classic visa
The data and documents required to obtain an ESTA are different from those required for a traditional visa. The ESTA is issued for a limited period. Certain documents are therefore not essential. These include: bank statements, a letter from an employer or sponsor, and the visa application form, which is different for a traditional visa and for the ESTA.
It is therefore important to clearly define your objectives before starting the process of applying for a US visa. It is often compared to the eVisitor for travel to Australia.
Obtain ESTA via the US authorities' website
One way to apply for ESTA is to use the official US government website. If you don't understand English, that's not a problem. On the platform, you can select the language that suits you best. Once on the site, scroll down a little.
You will find the documents you need to apply and the amount you will have to pay. Once you have checked all this information, click on the Start a new application button. This will take you to the form you need to fill in. Take your time to fill it in properly, because your application will be rejected if the form is incomplete.
Apply for ESTA via a private agency
If you do not wish to use the US authorities' server, using a company with expertise in immigration is a good alternative. You can track your application if you have already started it. It only takes 72 hours to obtain the ESTA.
An agency service 