ESTA

If you are a national from a country on the authorized country list, you may be eligible to travel to the United States for business or pleasure without a visa.  In order to obtain this privilege, you must apply through the CBP ESTA program, ideally 72+ hours before your intended travel date.

ESTA became mandatory January 12, 2009.  Approved ESTA applications are valid for a period of two years, or until the passport expires, whichever comes first, and multiple trips to the United States without the traveler having to re-apply for another ESTA. When traveling to the U.S. with the approved ESTA, you may only stay for up to 90 days at a time – and there should be a reasonable amount of time between visits so that the CBP Officer does not think you are trying to live here. There is no set requirement for how long you must wait between visits.

Foreign nationals who wish to enter the US for business or pleasure.  Please note that entering through the visa waiver program you are giving up certain rights that visa holders would otherwise have.  You will not be able to extend or change your status in the United States.  In only very limited circumstances will you be eligible to apply for adjustment of status.  If you are denied admission to the US or if you removed from the country, you have no rights to appeal unless you make a proper application for asylum.

Visa waiver authorization may be granted to an alien through ESTA if he or she

1. intend to enter the United States for 90 days or less for business, pleasure or transit;
2. has a valid passport lawfully issued by a Visa waiver program country;
3. arrive via a Visa waiver program signatory carrier;
4. has a return or onward ticket;
5. has travel that does not terminate in contiguous territory or adjacent islands unless the traveler is a resident of one of those areas; and
6. is a citizen or national of one of the Visa Waiver Program countries listed below: