“If you come from a country with a very low visa violation rate, then you might be able to very easily visit the U.S. on an ESTA without any visa at all.“
— Brian D. Lerner, Immigration Attorney
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables most citizens or nationals of participating countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business. Stays of 90 days or less are allowed without obtaining a visa.
Travelers must have a valid Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). The ESTA application is an essential part of this process.
If you are inadmissible on other grounds, you will not be able to get the ESTA. In that case, you should apply for a regular visa and a Waiver if necessary. Remember to fill out your ESTA application before traveling.You must have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months after your planned departure from the United States.
In addition, you must have an e-passport to use the VWP. Make sure your ESTA application reflects this information.
An e-passport is an enhanced secure passport with an embedded electronic chip.
You can readily identify an e-passport by a symbol on the cover. Consider this when completing your ESTA application.
