Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)
visa waiver program
| Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Electronic System for Travel Authorization: Overview
What is the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)?
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has established a new online system that is part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) for travelers who plan to travel to the U.S. for temporary business or pleasure. Effective January 12, 2009, ESTA is mandatory for visa free travel to the U.S. for all nationals or citizens of all 36 VWP participant countries, including South Korea, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Malta, Greece and other existing VWP member countries.
Is an ESTA a visa?
No. An approved ESTA is not a visa. It does not meet the legal or regulatory requirements to serve in lieu of a U.S. visa when a visa is required under U.S. law. Individuals who possess a valid visa will still be able to travel to the U.S. on that visa for the purpose for which it was issued. Individuals traveling on valid visas will not be required to apply for an ESTA. Obtaining ESTA approval, for most travelers, will be simple and easy. The visa process has separate procedures, which generally require an appointment, travel to the U.S. Embassy, an interview with a consular officer, processing time, and the payment of an application fee.
Why is a travel authorization via ESTA required for VWP travelers?
U.S. legislation required the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to implement an electronic travel authorization system and other measures to enhance the security of the VWP. ESTA adds a layer of security that allows DHS to determine, in advance of travel, whether an individual is eligible to travel to the United States under the VWP and whether such travel poses a law enforcement or security risk.
Are there any countries that have a similar system in place for in-bound travelers?
The Government of Australia has a program that is similar to ESTA, called the Electronic Travel Authority. The Electronic Travel Authority is comparable to ESTA in that travelers planning to visit Australia may submit an application electronically through the Electronic Travel Authority Website.
If I am approved through ESTA to travel to the U.S., does that mean I can enter the country?
Not necessarily. Approval only authorizes a traveler to board a plane or cruise ship for travel to the United States without a visa. In all cases, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers make admissibility determinations at ports of entry or pre-clearance facilities.
Can a VWP traveler with more than one passport travel to the U.S. on the passport that was not used when applying for an ESTA?
No. Each VWP traveler must have an approved ESTA for the passport he or she plans to use for travel to the U.S. If a traveler acquires a new passport, he or she must submit a new ESTA application for their new passport.
What happens when a traveler submits an application and how long does it take for ESTA to process an application?
In most cases, ESTA will provide an almost immediate determination of eligibility for travel under the VWP. There are three types of responses to an ESTA application: Authorization Approved, Authorization Pending, and Travel Not Authorized. Those applicants who receive an approval are authorized to travel to the U.S. under the VWP. Applicants who receive an Authorization Pending response will need to check the ESTA Website for updates within 72 hours to receive a final response. Applicants whose ESTA applications are denied will need to make an appointment to apply for a visa at their local U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
How long is a travel authorization via ESTA valid?
Each approved ESTA application generally will be valid for a period of two years and allows for multiple visits to the U.S. within that period without having to apply for another ESTA. Travelers whose ESTA applications are approved, but whose passports will expire in less than two years, will receive an ESTA valid until the passport’s expiration date.
A new travel authorization is required if: (1) the traveler is issued a new passport; (2) the traveler changes his or her name; (3) the traveler changes his or her gender; (4) the traveler’s country of citizenship changes; or (5) the circumstances underlying the traveler’s previous responses to any of the ESTA application questions requiring a “yes” or “no” response have changed.
Do VWP travelers need to bring a paper printout of their ESTA approval to the airport?
No. DHS will be able to communicate a traveler's ESTA status to the carriers. However, DHS recommends that travelers print out the ESTA application response in order to maintain a record of their ESTA application number.
If a VWP traveler has received ESTA approval, does he or she also need to fill out an I-94W?
ESTA will allow DHS to eventually eliminate the requirement that VWP travelers complete a paper Form I-94W prior to being admitted to the United States. While DHS continues to work together with the airlines to fully automate the I-94W process, all VWP travelers applying for admission at a U.S. port of entry, including VWP travelers who have obtained travel authorization via ESTA, must present a completed Form I-94W to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Who needs to apply for an ESTA?
Who is required to apply for an electronic travel authorization via ESTA?
As of January 12, 2009, the U.S. for temporary business or pleasure under the VWP are required to receive an authorization through ESTA prior to boarding a U.S.-bound airplane or vessel. Accompanied and unaccompanied children, regardless of age, will be required to obtain an independent ESTA approval. A third party, such as a relative or travel agent, will be permitted to submit an ESTA application on behalf of a VWP traveler.
When should I apply for an ESTA?
Applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel. We recommend that ravel authorization applications be submitted as early as possible, as soon as travel is planned. DHS realizes that not all travel is planned in advance, and applications for last-minute or emergency travel will be accommodated.
Once an ESTA application has been successfully completed and submitted online, the application will be queried against appropriate law enforcement databases. ESTA application data will remain active for the period of time that the ESTA authorization is valid. DHS will maintain this information for an additional year, and then will archive the information for twelve years to allow retrieval of the information for law enforcement and investigatory purposes.
In most cases, ESTA will provide an almost immediate determination of eligibility for travel under the VWP. An approved ESTA travel authorization is valid for up to two years or until the traveler’s passport expires, whichever comes first; valid for multiple entries into the U.S.; and not a guarantee of admissibility to the U.S. at a port of entry. ESTA approval only authorizes a traveler to board a carrier for travel to the U.S. under the VWP. In all cases, Customs and Border Protection officers make admissibility determinations at our ports of entry. (For additional information, please visit “Know Before You Go” at www.cbp.gov/travel).
Do nationals or citizens of countries that participate in the VWP require an ESTA if they are only transiting the U.S. en route to another country?
Yes. Eligible nationals or citizens of countries that participate in the VWP will require either an ESTA or a visa to transit the U.S. If a traveler is only planning to transit through the U.S. on the way to another country, when he or she completes the ESTA application, the traveler should enter the words “In Transit” and his or her final destination location in the address lines under the heading “Address While In The U.S.”
I have a current and valid visa. Must I apply for a travel authorization via ESTA as well?
No, individuals who possess a valid visa may travel to the United States with that visa for the purpose it was issued, and will not be required to apply for travel authorization through ESTA.
Do VWP travelers arriving in the U.S. from a non-VWP country need an ESTA?
All VWP travelers arriving by U.S.-bound airplane or vessel, regardless of their country of origination or port of embarkation, will require an approved ESTA.
Do travelers need to update their ESTA if it will expire before the traveler departs the U.S.?
If an ESTA expires before the traveler leaves the U.S., the traveler is not required to apply for another ESTA. However, the traveler will need to apply for a new ESTA for future travel.
Do I ever need to reapply for travel authorization through the ESTA?
Yes, there are instances when a new travel authorization via ESTA would be required. If you have acquired a new passport or had a change in name, gender, or citizenship, or
if the answers to any of the “yes or no” ESTA questions have changed, a new application must be submitted. Also, once the travel authorization expires, a new travel authorization via ESTA is required. Applicants may also update their destination addresses or itineraries should they change after their ESTA has been approved, although this will not be required.
How do I apply for an ESTA?
To apply for authorization to travel to the U.S. under the VWP, travelers will log on to the ESTA web-based system (https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov) and complete an application online following instructions and answering all of the required questions in English, including biographical and eligibility information currently required on the paper I-94W form. The traveler must provide (in English) biographical data including name, birth date, and passport information, as well as his or her destination address in the U.S. The traveler will also be required to answer VWP eligibility questions regarding communicable diseases, arrests, and convictions for certain crimes and past history of visa revocation or deportation, among others.
All travelers from Visa Waiver countries, regardless of their point of embarkation, will be required to obtain an electronic travel authorization prior to boarding a carrier to travel by air or sea to the U.S. under the VWP. Travelers who have not received ESTA approval before traveling may be denied boarding, experience delayed processing or be denied admission at a U.S. port of entry. Travelers will not be able to submit ESTA applications at a U.S. port of entry or at the U.S. Embassy.
My English skills are not very good. Is the ESTA Web site translated into different languages?
The ESTA website is currently available in the following languages: Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Icelandic, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Portuguese, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, Hungarian, Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, and Slovak. Note: Though the ESTA website is translated into different languages, just as the paper Arrival-Departure Record Form (I-94W Form) must be completed in English, information for the ESTA application must also be completed in English.
Are answers required in English? What if the traveler's keyboard does not type in English?
Just as the I-94W paper form must be completed in English, information for the ESTA application must also be entered in English. The computer utilized to submit the ESTA application should, therefore, be configured to include the U.S. English language with a suitable English font set as a language selection for keyboard input.
How can an applicant correct a mistake when completing their ESTA application?
The ESTA Website will prompt applicants to review the data submitted for the overall application prior to submission. In addition, the ESTA Website will require the applicant to reaffirm the passport number prior to submission. If an applicant made a mistake when filling out the passport information, identifying biographic information, or eligibility questions, he or she can submit a new ESTA application, provided he or she has not been denied authorization. The applicant may have to close his or her Internet browser and open a new one in order to re-apply. Applicants who have made a mistake and have been denied authorization must wait 24 hours to re-apply.
Can someone else apply for me if I don't have access to the Internet?
Yes, a friend, relative, personnel in the travel industry, or another third party may file an application on your behalf. However, the traveler is responsible for the truthfulness and accuracy of all information submitted on his or her behalf.
Can prospective travelers apply for an ESTA without specific travel plans if they want to be able to travel to the U.S. later on short notice?
Yes. VWP travelers are not required to have specific plans to travel to the U.S. before they apply for an ESTA. If a traveler’s destination address in the U.S. is unknown when he or she completes the ESTA application, the traveler should enter the name of the hotel or approximate location he or she intends to visit. Travelers may update this information when their plans are finalized, but they will not be required to update their destination addresses or itineraries should they change after their ESTA has been approved. DHS recommends that ESTA applications be submitted no less than 72 hours prior to travel. However, ESTA will accommodate last minute and emergency travelers.
On the ESTA application, when would I check the box “yes” for the portion of question “A” that asks: “Do you have a communicable disease?
Only answer yes if one of the following communicable diseases applies: Chancroid, Gonorrhea, Granuloma inguinale, Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, Hansen’s disease (infectious), Lymphogranuloma venereum, Syphilis (infectious stage), and Tuberculosis (active)
On the ESTA application, when would I check the box “yes” for the portion of question “A” that asks about a physical or mental disorder?
Answer “yes” if you: (a) have a physical or mental disorder and behavior associated with the disorder that may pose or has posed a threat to the property, safety or welfare of the individual or others; or (b) have had a physical or mental disorder and a history or behavior associated with the disorder that has posed a threat to the property, safety or welfare of the individual or others and which behavior is likely to recur or lead to other harmful behavior.
Answer “no” if you: (a) currently have no physical or mental disorders; (b) have or had a physical or mental disorder without associated behavior that may pose or has posed a threat to your property, safety or welfare or that of others; (c) currently have a physical or mental disorder with associated behavior, but that behavior has not posed, does not currently pose nor will pose a threat to your property, safety or welfare or that of others; or (d) you had a physical or mental disorder with associated behavior that posed a threat to your property, safety or welfare or that of others, but that behavior is unlikely to recur.
On the ESTA application, when would I check the box “yes” for the portion of question “B” that asks: Have you ever been arrested or convicted for an offense or crime involving moral turpitude?
A crime involving moral turpitude is an offense that is inherently base, vile, or depraved and contrary to the accepted rules of society and the duties owed between persons or to society generally. Some examples of crimes involving moral turpitude include, but are not limited to, murder, rape, sexual offenses, crimes against children, prostitution, robbery, theft, fraud and crimes of violence.
On the ESTA application, when would I check the box “yes” for question “G” that asks: Have you ever asserted immunity from prosecution?
Answer “Yes” to this question if: (a) while in the United States, you committed a felony, crime of violence, or reckless driving or driving while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs or alcohol involving personal injury to another person; (b) you received immunity from prosecution; (c) you departed the United States as a result of committing the offense and receiving immunity; and (d) you have not subsequently been prosecuted for that offense.
What does it mean if ESTA denied my application?
In the event that an ESTA applicant is denied authorization to travel to the U.S. under the VWP, he or she will be referred to www.travel.state.gov for information on how to apply for a U.S. visa. Applicants who wish to apply for a visa at the U.S. Embassy Seoul may refer to our website at http://seoul.usembassy.gov/non-immigrant_visas.html. This process is similar to the current practice, in which VWP travelers who arrive at a U.S. port of entry and are determined by U.S. Customs and Border Protection to be ineligible for admission under the VWP may be returned to their country of origin to apply for a visa. It will be far more convenient for most travelers to receive this notification before commencing travel.
Does the U.S. anticipate that a large number of travelers who previously traveled under the VWP will now be refused an ESTA?
The ESTA is designed to screen each traveler for law enforcement or security risks. It is anticipated that the vast majority of travelers will receive an approved ESTA.
What should a traveler do if he or she is not approved for travel through ESTA?
If an ESTA application is denied and the traveler wishes to continue with the trip, the traveler will be required to apply for a nonimmigrant visa at the U.S. Embassy. Please visit the U.S. Department of State website at www.travel.state.gov for information about how to apply for a U.S. visa.
Should a traveler not approved for travel through ESTA reapply for an ESTA?
If an ESTA application is not approved (“Travel Not Authorized”), you will have to wait 24 hours to reapply, but unless the circumstances have changed, the traveler will not qualify for an ESTA and will need to apply for a nonimmigrant visa at the U.S. Embassy. In addition, reapplying with false information for the purposes of qualifying for an ESTA could make the traveler permanently ineligible for travel to the U.S.
How can a traveler find out the reason an ESTA application was denied?
DHS is carefully developing the ESTA program to ensure that only those individuals who are ineligible to travel to the U.S. under the VWP or those whose travel would pose a law enforcement or security risk will be refused an ESTA. While the ESTA Website will provide a link to the DHS Travel Redress Inquiry Program (TRIP) Website, there are no guarantees that a request for redress through DHS TRIP will resolve the VWP ineligibility that caused an applicant’s ESTA application to be denied.
Please note the U.S. Embassies and Consulates will not be able to provide details about ESTA denials or resolve the issue that caused the ESTA denial. Embassies and Consulates will be able to accept an application for a non-immigrant visa, which, if approved, will be the only way that a traveler whose ESTA application has been denied would be authorized to travel to the U.S.
If a traveler was denied ESTA approval and needs to travel immediately, is it possible to get an emergency visa appointment at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate?
Unfortunately, the U.S. Embassy in Seoul is unable to guarantee next-day appointments because of varying demand for visas. As a result, we encourage travelers to apply for an ESTA approval far in advance of the proposed travel. Information about the appointment process is available at the U.S. Embassy or the U.S. Department of State website.
Is the ESTA Website secure and private?
Yes. The Website will be operated by the U.S. government and employs technology to prevent unauthorized access to the information entered and viewed. Information submitted by applicants through the ESTA Website will be subject to the same strict controls that have been established for similar traveler screening programs as governed by U.S. laws and regulations, including but not limited to the Federal Information Security Management Act. Access to such information is limited to those with a professional need to know.
How long will ESTA application data be stored?
ESTA application data will remain active for the period of time that the approved ESTA is valid, which is generally two years, or until the traveler’s passport expires, whichever comes first. DHS will then maintain this information for an additional year, after which it will be archived for twelve years to allow retrieval of the information for law enforcement, national security or investigatory purposes. Once the information is archived, the number of officials with access to it will be further limited. This retention is consistent both with U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP’s) border search authority and with the border security mission mandated for CBP by Congress. Data linked to active law enforcement lookout records, CBP matches to enforcement activities, and/or investigations or cases, including applications for ESTA that are denied will remain accessible for the life of the law enforcement activities to which they may become related.
Will DHS share ESTA data with others or use it for any purpose other than determining eligibility for an ESTA?
DHS will use the application data to screen the individual before granting authorization to travel to the U.S. under the VWP. As part of this screening process, information that identifies suspected or known violators of the law and other persons of concern will be provided to the appropriate law enforcement, national security and/or counterterrorism agency.
The information collected by and maintained in ESTA may be used by other components of DHS on a need-to-know basis consistent with the component’s mission. Under current agreements between DHS and the Department of State, information submitted during an ESTA application may be shared with consular officers to assist them in determining whether a visa should be issued to an applicant after an ESTA application has been denied.
Information may also be shared with the appropriate federal, state, local, tribal, and foreign governmental agencies or multilateral governmental organizations responsible for investigating or prosecuting the violations of, or for enforcing or implementing, a statute, rule, regulation, order or license or where DHS believes information would assist enforcement of civil or criminal laws. Additionally, information may be shared when DHS reasonably believes such use is to assist in anti-terrorism efforts or intelligence gathering related to national or international security or transnational crime.
While carriers will not receive the ESTA application information that travelers provide to DHS, they will receive confirmation of a passenger’s ESTA status via the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS)/APIS Quick Query system indicating whether an ESTA is required and whether authorization has been granted.