Thousands of people travel to the United States every day. There are over 80 different U.S. visas to choose from, depending on the purpose of each trip. It’s important to plan your trip well in advance, as applying for a visa can usually take several weeks.
Why don’t all countries participate in the US Visa Waiver Program?
Countries’ participation in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program is the result of a bilateral agreement between the two countries.
There are a number of conditions laid down by the USA for a country to qualify for the Visa Waiver Program for its nationals. The fundamental principle is that the partner country must achieve a sufficiently high level of security for its travelers to be able to travel to the USA without a visa.
For example: if a country does not yet issue electronic or biometric passports, there is no chance of participating in the program. Payment for ESTA is by credit card only.
What is the ESTA for exactly?
ESTA authorization allows you to travel to the United States without obtaining a travel visa. It is therefore not a visa. At border crossings, your travel passport will be carefully checked, as will the purpose of your journey. In the event that the customs officer finds an anomaly, he has the right to send the traveler directly back to his country of origin. The scope of the ESTA is very limited since it is only reserved for tourists and people on business trips. The duration of an ESTA trip must not exceed 90 days, although ESTA authorization is valid for 2 years following acceptance of your application.
Do I need ESTA authorization to travel to Canada?
It is possible to leave the U.S. for other countries that share its borders, such as Canada or Mexico, even if you arrived in the U.S. with an ESTA. An ESTA is an authorization to enter the USA, not an authorization to leave. To travel to Canada, you’ll need a visa or an eTA Canada electronic travel authorization.