Your next destination is the United States of America, and you’d like to know if you’re eligible for ESTA authorization? The answer depends on your type of stay and the reason for your trip. We explain.
Sommaire :
What types of stay are covered by ESTA?
Before determining the types of stay for which an ESTA must be requested, it’s important to specify that ESTA authorization can only be requested by nationals of countries that are signatories to the Visa Waiver Program. The purpose of ESTA is to secure travel without a U.S. visa. In other words, foreign nationals from countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program must apply for ESTA online, rather than applying for a visa at an American embassy, for their stay in the USA.
What stays are possible with an ESTA?
ESTA travel authorization applies only to tourist, business or transit travel within the United States.
The ESTA cannot be used for any other type of stay. You cannot work in the USA or study at an American university under cover of the ESTA. For these stays, you need to apply for an American visa at the consular services of the American embassy.
To qualify for ESTA, you must also travel to the USA by air or sea. Land travel is not covered by ESTA, and you will be asked to fill in the I-94W form at the border.
How long can I stay on ESTA?
The ESTA only applies to a temporary stay of up to 90 days on American soil. Not to be confused with its validity, which is 2 years maximum. Several trips to the USA can be made during this period.
Always check the status of your ESTA before traveling to the USA. Your ESTA may have expired, or it may lose its validity if you have a new passport (in which case you will need to apply for a new one). You can check your ESTA status on the official website by entering your application number or your passport details (passport number, issuing country, date of issue and expiry date).
How do I obtain an ESTA?
The ESTA application is not processed by the US embassy, but by computer systems. Applications are submitted via an online form on the official US government website.
The ESTA form is divided into 3 parts:
- your identification by means of your personal information (surname, first names, date of birth, passport data, etc.);
- the reason for your stay in the USA, provided you comply with the type of stay authorized by the ESTA;
- a series of closed questions about, among other things, your medical and legal history, to determine whether you represent a threat to U.S. homeland security.
The fields entered must match your passport in every respect. This also applies to the surname of a married woman (married name or maiden name). Any error may result in your application being rejected. If you’d like to entrust this task to a specialist, that’s possible: simply fill in the application form on a private ESTA specialist website.
Please note that the American authorities only accept travelers in possession of a valid passport, i.e. a valid electronic or biometric passport. The French passport is a biometric passport (it contains a record of your fingerprints in its electronic chip), so you can travel to the United States.
Once you’ve submitted your online application, you’ll receive a reply from the U.S. authorities within 72 hours. There’s no need to print out your ESTA, as it’s linked to your passport number. It will be checked at the same time as your identity at customs. It is also possible that the immigration officer will ask for proof that you have left the country within the allotted time. This may simply be your return or onward ticket to your final destination.