How to submit ESTA application

It is really simple and easy to get an electronic visa for US with the ESTA program. International travelers planning to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program are now subject to enhanced security requirements. You must apply for the ESTA, Electronic System for Travel Authorization in order to travel.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Passport information
• Contact information

1. First of all you can apply for the ESTA only if you meet the following requirements
   1. You have a valid passport and national of a country participating in the visa waiver program.
   2. You do not have a visitor visa
   3. You plan to travel for less than 90 days
   4. Your travel is for business or pleasure purposes.

2. The following countries are a part of the Visa Waiver program as of March 2009. Always check before you apply.
   Andorra, France, Luxembourg, Singapore, Czech Republic,
   Austria, Germany, Monaco, Slovenia, Estonia ,Australia
   Iceland, Netherlands, Spain, Hungary , Belgium. Ireland
   New Zealand, Sweden, Latvia , Brunei, Italy, Norway, Switzerland
   Lithuania, Denmark, Japan, Portugal, United Kingdom, Slovakia
   Finland, Liechtenstein, San Marino, Republic of Malta, South Korea

3. If you are a citizen of the following countries you need a electronic passport : Czech Republic, Estonia, Slovakia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Republic of Malta, and South Korea
   Otherwise you need a machine readable passport, based on the date of issue or renewal. Check the ESTA website for the most recent rules.

4. The application is done online from the US goverment web site at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/esta/
   The details are simple and have your passport and travel information handy.

Tips & Warnings

• Always be truthful and completely accurate when filling your application.
• You must show a return trip to your country to ensure that the United States Customs and Border Protection officer has a good chance of letting you in.
• As of March 2009, there is no fee for this application
• If you are admitted to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program, you may not change or extend your non-immigrant status.
• Here are the few things you can update after you apply E-mail address Telephone number Airline and flight number City where you are boarding Address while in the United States

Resources

• US travel department
• US Customs and Border Protection