ESTA USA

Since April 1, 2016, all European nationals can travel to the United States without a US visa, for a tourist or business trip of less than 90 days, as long as they are in possession of a ESTA, that is, an electronic travel authorization (Electronic System for Travel Authorization). This authorization allows European nationals to be exempt from US visa, by adding it directly to their electronic or biometric passport.

The ESTA USA is part of the “Visa Waiver Program", a program to facilitate access to the United States for all nationals of partner states. If you are a national of a Schengen Area member country, you can then apply for an ESTA directly with our services, and thus be exempt from a US visa. The ESTA being a electronic authorization travel, all the procedures are carried out online. You will not have to go to the American consulate in your country of residence to apply for an ESTA USA.

Do you need a visa to go to the United States?

If you are a European national, you do not need a US visa to go to the United States. You will only need to present an electronic travel authorization (ESTA) to the American authorities upon your arrival in the United States. You will also need to be in possession of a passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of your departure from the United States. A passport expiring before these 6 months may be accepted, but the length of stay allowed may be adjusted by the immigration officer to fit with the expiry of the passport.

There ESTA USA application is only possible if you have an electronic or biometric passport. If this is not the case, you will need to apply for a US visa from the US diplomatic or consular authorities in your country of residence.

The ESTA USA is reserved for citizens of many nationalities who do not need a visa. This authorization will allow you to enter the United States for a tourist stay or for a business stay of less than 90 days. Your ESTA will also allow you to transit in international zone from an American airport for several hours. Valid for 2 years, or until the expiration date of your passport, the ESTA will allow you to make multiple entries into the United States, up to the 90-day limit, as defined by the Electronic Travel Authorization.

The nationalities that can apply for an ESTA USA are determined by the “Visa Waiver Program" The countries concerned are as follows: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom/England.

⚠️ If you have been to Iran since 2011 or Cuba since 2021, you will not be able to apply for an ESTA, even if you are a national of a Schengen Area member country.

What are the different types of visas for the United States?

If you are not a national of an eligible nationality, or if you wish to stay in the United States for a period of more than 3 months (work, internship, studies, family reunification), you will need to obtain a US visa from the American embassy in your country of residence. The US visa is divided into Non-Immigrant visas and Immigrant visas.

THE Non-Immigrant Visas allow you to stay in the United States only temporarily. These visas are for people who cannot apply for ESTA. They are divided into several subcategories:

• The B1 visa for tourism;
• The B2 visa for Business;
• The F1 visa for studies;
• The J1 visa for internships.

If you wish to apply for residency to settle in the United States for at least 3 months, you will need to contact the Immigrant visas. These visas will allow you to subsequently apply for a permanent resident card (there Green Card). They are divided into two subcategories:

• The H1B visa for corporate work;
• The L1 visa for working in a subsidiary.

How to get an ESTA for the United States?

Obtaining the ESTA USA is done only online. You can apply for it on our website, by filling out the application form that we provide. To make your US e-visa application effective, you will need to indicate the following elements in the form:

• Your biometric data passport, which must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of your departure from the United States;
• Your contact details accommodation on site (name of the hotel or relative who is hosting you, address, telephone number);
• The coordinates of the emergency contact person (name, first name, telephone number, email address);
• Information relating to your job (company name, position held, address, telephone number) to prove that you do not wish to settle in the United States;
• The names and surnames of your parents;
• L'address where you reside Currently ;
• Your number phone;
• THE pattern of your temporary stay.

Providing this information will allow you to finalize your USA e-visa application. We will take care of transmitting this information to the American authorities, so that you can receive your ESTA as soon as possible. We also recommend that you update the information in your ESTA file between each new trip to the United States, in order to guarantee the compliance of your ESTA throughout its validity period.

Since June 2023, The USA has also set up a mobile application to submit your request. Be careful, however, as bad experiences have been reported by travelers, particularly regarding the quality of the passport scanner and the optional and intrusive request to take a selfie which is not requested on the classic form.

What are the criteria for obtaining an e-visa for the United States?

The criteria for obtaining an electronic travel authorization (ESTA USA) for the United States are as follows:

• Be in possession of a valid biometric passport valid for up to 6 months after the date of your planned return;
• Be a national of a member state of the “Visa Waiver Program» ;
• Stay less than 3 months in the United States;
• Be in possession of return plane tickets;
• Not be in violation of U.S. laws;
• Have accommodation on site.

How much does an ESTA cost for the United States?

The cost of an e-visa for the United States includes the consular fees set by the American government (21$, i.e. 20 €), plus our service fees for processing your ESTA application and transmitting it to the US authorities. You will find an indicative fee schedule on our website, which will give you an idea of the amount of your e-visa before you begin your application process.

How long does it take to get an ESTA for the United States?

The time to obtain a US e-visa is generally very short, since the entire procedure is dematerialized. Normally, you can obtain your ESTA in 72 hours, but we advise you to start the process at least one week before your actual departure. This will guarantee you to obtain your US e-visa on time.

How can I extend a US visa?

You can extend the validity of your electronic travel authorization directly on site, with the American authorities, by converting your stay with a local visa. However, we advise you to inquire with the relevant authorities. at least 30 days before your ESTA expires.