ESTA Requirement for VWP

In 2008, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) introduced a new online pre-approval system, Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), for individuals traveling to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).  ESTA requires travelers to obtain advance approval (at least 72 hours) before traveling to the U.S.  Beginning January 20, 2010, CBP initiated a 60-day transition to enforce ESTA compliance for air carriers and VWP travelers without an approved ESTA may not be allowed to board a U.S.-bound plane.     

ESTA does not guarantee admission into the U.S., and travelers will still be required to pass through inspection in order to gain admission into the U.S.  ESTA is designed to operate as a screening method to check travelers for previous arrests/convictions, communicable diseases and previous visa denials.  

ESTA has been mandatory since Jan. 12, 2009 for all nationals of VWP countries traveling to the U.S under the VWP, but the ESTA requirement will now apparently be enforced more strictly. ESTA applications, once approved, generally will be valid for up to two years or until the applicant’s passport expires, whichever comes first. Authorizations are valid for multiple entries into the U.S.      

VWP travelers are required to log onto the ESTA Web site and complete an online application (www.cbp.gov/ESTA). The web-based system prompts applicants to answer basic biographic and eligibility questions typically requested on a paper I-94W form; ESTA is expected to completely replace the paper I-94W in the coming months.

The ESTA website is available in 21 languages: Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish and Swedish.     
 
      

Szabo, Zelnick & Erickson

ESTA VWP