ESTA Visa Programme: just fill an onlinef form and travel to the United States without a traditional visa

I hate visas. I really do. They are expensive, time-consuming and stressful. As a Mexican, I have to apply for a visa to get into the United States, and even though it lasts 10 years, I always dread the moment when I have to renew it.

Therefore, when Sophie and Josh, two amazing students from Liverpool, contacted me to discuss a project that allows citizens to enter the USA without having to obtain a visa through an embassy, I was very interested. And, even though the programme does not apply for Mexico (and I don’t think it will, considering our friend Trump is in the White House now), it is useful for people from several countries in Europe, Asia, South America and Oceania. So hey, if this can help other people to travel, I’ll gladly share the info on my blog!

If you are planning a trip to the United States in the upcoming months, this might be of interest for you. Sophie and Josh put together a nice post for those who want to save themselves a lot of time and hassle when applying for an US visa.

So what is ESTA?

ESTA (electronic system for travel authorisation) is an online programme that allows easy entry to the United States of America for holidays and meetings with a maximum stay of 90 days.

It was created by the US government In 2009 and the aims of this project were to increase the speeds in which tourist and business persons could be processed into the country. Meaning that those eligible do not have to get a traditional visa (yay). Also, this programme was created to improve security, as those applying are screened automatically once they apply. As you see, it is a win-win situation.

Which countries participate in ESTA?

Currently, 38 countries participate in the ESTA Visa Waiver Program.

• Andorra
• Australia
• Belgium
• Brunei
• Chile
• Denmark
• Germany
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Greece
• Ireland
• Iceland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Japan
• Monaco
• New Zealand
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Austria
• Portugal
• Malta
• San Marino
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• South Korea
• Taiwan
• Czech Rep.
• Hungary
• United Kingdom

Benefits of the ESTA visa

Unlike the traditional visa, the ESTA visa form is completed solely online in a matter of minutes. No need to book appointments, commute to an embassy and wait forever to get a response. Thus, with an online application, you can be sure that you will save money and time.

Moreover, once the ESTA visa application has been approved, you will receive an email about the application status within minutes, however, this process can take up to 72 hours for a notification change.

A visa usually lasts about 3-6 months, however, the ESTA visa is valid for two years. In those two years, you may travel to the United States as many times as you like, as long as you do not stay in the country for more than 90 days per visit and 180 days per year. This can be fantastic for anybody that has family or friends that want to visit in the US but have always been put off by the thought of having to obtain a visa. Besides, there’s a huge Disneyland in there. What other incentive do you need?

Not only those travelling directly to the United States should apply for a visa, but those with connecting flights that land in the US. If you have a flight to London from Toronto, with a connecting flight in New York, for example, you must have an ESTA to enter the United States.

Useful information to consider

• You must know that if your ESTA application is granted, this does not mean that you will 100% be admitted into the country. Officials at the borders have the overall say on who can and cannot enter.

• If an ESTA application is rejected, you must apply for a conventional visa.

• If you’re going to apply for an ESTA visa, you should ensure that you have an electronic passport. However, If you do not have an electronic passport, you will either need to get one or apply for a visa.

Check the pictures

If you are a more visual person, just check the infographic!

Want to know more?

So there you go. If you are from one of these 38 countries, you have no excuse to postpone that Broadway musical show (Anastasia is premiering soon!) or to visit a long-lost cousin in Minnesota (they have deep-fried butter there, in case you needed another incentive).

If you want to know more about ESTA visa programme, visit Sophie and Josh’s website to check additional details, I’m sure they would be more than happy to answer any question you might have. Bon voyage!

I guess I’ll see you on the road.

Love,