Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)
 From January 12, 2009, all qualified VWP travelers will be required to obtain
electronic travel authorization prior to boarding an air or sea carrier to the
United States. Travelers who do not receive travel authorization prior to their departure may
be denied boarding, experience delays or be denied admission into the United States. Applications may be submitted at anytime prior to travel, but no less than 72 hours prior to departure.
Travel Authorization is obtained through an online registration system known as the
Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). While not compulsory, travelers
may obtain travel authorization from August 1, 2008 onwards. If you are planning on traveling to
the United States anytime after August 1, you may wish to consider registering with
ESTA before your depature. If your registration is successful, it will be valid for multiple applications for two years or until the date on which your passport expires, which ever comes first.
Before going on line to register, you should ensure that you are qualified to travel
under the Visa Waiver Program otherwise your registration will be rejected.
ESTA only authorizes a traveler to board an air or sea carrier for travel to the
United States. It also does not guarantee entry into the United States; that
decision rests with the immigration official at the Port of Entry in the same way
that travelers currently entering the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program or with a
visa are subject to inspection.
Entering the United States by land
Travelers who make their initial entry into the U.S. by land from either Canada or Mexico are
NOT required to travel authorization through ESTA before traveling.
Warning
If your passport has ever been reported lost or stolen to the authorities and then recovered,
please do not attempt to use it for travel to the United States. If you input the passport details
into ESTA, your application will be denied.
Submit your ESTA Application at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov.
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Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)