ESTA USA Visa Application Online Form – Handy Guide To Fill Up This Form

If you are planning to go to USA, by ir or by ship, then you must have an ESTA. ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) is an authorization that is must before boarding a flight or ship to USA. ESTA is only required if you are travelling to USA by air or by ship. It is not required while you are travelling through land.

Electronic System for Travel Authorization is not a VISA, nor is it equivalent to VISA. It just authorizes you to have a air ticket or a ticket for ship. Having an ESTA approved doesn’t mean that you are guaranteed to enter USA. ESTA just makes you eligible to book a ticket to travel to USA. Once you reach USA airport, you will be scrutinized by officer at airport. It is on his/her discretion that you may or may not be allowed to enter USA, though you have valid ESTA approved.

You are suggested to get USA VISA ESTA approved before booking your ticket. Your ticket will not be of any use if you do not have ESTA. You will have to bear the loss of ticket amount you paid. You can apply for ESTA/eVISA USA through a simple online process. It usually takes few hours to get ESTA approved, if you have completed the online application process correctly. In few cases, it takes 72 hours to get approved, if any discrepancy is found. ESTA is approved by US Embassy in your country. This ESTA helps US government to validate the VISA details of all the people who are planning to visit USA.

You need to follow these simple steps to apply for ESTA online:

1. Fill the application form completely and correctly. This form is available online.
2. Once filled and verified all the details, you need to submit this application form.
3. When you submit the application form, you will receive an application number. You should save this number for reference in future. You may need it while tracking the status of your application.
4. After receiving application number, you will have to make payment of US$14. This can also be done online.
5. Once the payment is done successfully, that means your application process is over.
6. Now, you can track your application status online using the application number.

This process of ESTA was enforced after 12^th January, 2009. Once the ESTA is approved, it is valid till 2 years. It can be easily renewed after 2 years for future use.

There are 37 countries, which are included under VISA Waiver policy. But ESTA is mandatory for people from these countries as well. These countries are as follows:

These tips will be helpful for you while applying for ESTA.