Published On: Wed, Dec 20th, 2017

Tips for traveling with ESTA

Traveling to different countries brings with it the necessity of conforming to that country’s rules. When you travel to the US for example, you need to have a visa. Getting a visa can take a lot of time and in many cases it can even exceed the time you would be spending there anyway. Overall, this limits the number of occasions when you can truly say that going through the hassle of getting a visa was worth it.

Luckily, there is an alternative and if you don’t plan on spending more than 90 days in the US, this is really great news for you. You see, the ESTA visa is an online application that will grant you the liberty of visiting the US even if you don’t have a normal visa.  You can find out more about it on e-visa-usa.com as now we’re going to give you a few crucial tips on how to go about applying for your ESTA successfully.

Time is of the essence

Some are lucky enough to get the results back instantly, but it can take up to 72 hours officially for you to know whether your us esta application has been approved. With that said, it’s really important that you start preparing your application and send it with at least 72 hours to spare before your plane or boat leaves for the US.

Do your research properly

While understand the main idea behind the ESTA is simple, it’s essential that you spend the time to fully document yourself about this application. Knowing precisely whether it applies to your specific traveling situation can be of grave importance once you’re on another continent, and the people over at customs look over your file.

Be honest and thorough in your application

In the name of getting a positive result on your application, you might be inclined to overlook some details regarding personal information. This is a very bad idea because if you get found with lying or overlooking critical information such as being arrested in the past for example, you are facing a lot bigger concerns. They can even charge you with fraud and you don’t need a legal diploma to know that’s bad news.

Commonly asked questions about ESTA

There are a lot of questions about ESTA, so here are the answers to some of the most common question:

Can I apply for someone else?

Sure, you can apply for a friend or relative at any time, and it works just as well. You can’t however apply on behalf of an entire group. The applications are personal and you must fill them out only with your own personal information, or that of the person you’re applying for.

Is it expensive?

Not at all. It will cost you $14 to apply for the ESTA visa. Out of that money, $10 goes to US Tourism but if your application doesn’t pull through, you will be credited that money back. Only the remainder of $4 is non-refundable since that represents the cost of the actual application.

How long does it last?

It takes two years for the ESTA to expire so once you go through the process once; you just have to renew your ESTA every two years for it to remain valid. The good news here is that you don’t have to submit for a new one every time, and that you have a pretty big window when it comes to it being active.

About the Author

Discover more from The Boca Raton Tribune

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading