One of my friends called from London to tell me about an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime vacation to the wine country in California. Her partner planned the whole trip to the U.S. from start to finish, bought first class air tickets, booked a five-star romantic hotel, and she’s so excited. As in panicked! You see, he forgot to check out travel visa requirements and they weren’t exactly sure if they could board the plan a few days from now.
Fortunately, I just heard about how some UK visitors get electronic visas to the US. Since obtaining a travel visa can take time and attention — the traveler must fill out multiple forms completely and correctly — making an electronic request can speed up the process for some people. More than three million British passports have been issued in 2014, and electronic requests are faster! Although the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP) permits most UK passport holders to travel anywhere in the United States for up to ninety days without an actual visa, it’s still important to obtain the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) beforehand. And, for people like my friend (whose UK passport identifies her as a non-British resident), it’s especially important to get visas sorted!
Time Requirement
The electronic travel portal system authorization is considered the same as completing an I94W hard copy form that was formerly distributed to travellers from the UK prior to entering the U.S. ESTA may be completed completely online within seventy-two hours of travel. The authorization is valid for up to two years as long as the traveller’s UK passport remains valid during this period.
Children
For UK passport holders traveling with children under VWP must request an individual passport for every child. Individuals with an arrest or criminal record (including those arrested without a resulting conviction) or those who have stayed past the ninety-day limit of the program may be deported or prevented from using the VWP. If you’re planning a trip to the United States, don’t wait to start your application. Here’s how to get started:
Qualifications
Not everyone can apply for ESTA. Travellers must already have a valid passport issued by a country participating in the United States visa waiver program. The visitor must not already hold a visitor’s visa and may stay in the country up to ninety days. Those planning to stay for longer periods must apply for temporary or permanent visas.
Countries
Other participating countries include South Korea, Andorra, Republic of Malta, France, San Marino, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Singapore, Czech Republic, Portugal, Austria, Japan, Germany, Lithuania, Monaco, Switzerland, Slovenia, Norway, Estonia, Italy, Iceland, Brunei, Netherlands, Latvia, Spain, Sweden, Hungary, New Zealand, Belgium, and Ireland. Some of the participating countries actually require an electric passport. Visit ESTA’s website to learn about the latest updates and rules.
Recommendations
To avoid delays in the approval of your application, collect all necessary details before filling out the online form. The U.S. Customs & Border Protection Agency also recommends a round trip flight. It’s possible to enter or change some items through the ESTA site, including personal contact information (telephone number, email address, and U.S. temporary address) and flight information (airline and flight number).
