Pre-application for Visa Waivers as of January 12, 2009

All foreign nationals planning to enter the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) for short-term visits for business or tourism are required to register for and obtain online travel clearance through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).  VWP travelers should submit their applications well in advance of their travel dates, and no later than 72 hours before departing for the United States.

These new rules are also applicable to citizens of the Netherlands who want to enter the United States on the basis of the Visa Waiver Program.

The Visa Waiver Program allows foreign nationals from designated countries to enter the United States for business or tourism visits of up to 90 days without the need to obtain a visa from a U.S. consulate.  The following countries are members of the Visa Waiver Program:  Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

ESTA Registration

To register, the traveler submits an online application at the dedicated ESTA website, located at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/.  The application asks for the traveler’s biographic and passport information, as well as information about his or her basic eligibility to use the VWP, such as previous visa denials, prior arrests and convictions, and presence of certain diseases.  The application also requests the traveler’s U.S. destination, flight information and other travel details, but this information is not required.  

If approved, an ESTA travel authorization will remain valid for up to two years or until the traveler’s passport expires, whichever occurs first.  The authorization may be used for multiple trips to the United States during the validity period.  Travelers do not need to re-register in ESTA unless their initial authorization expires or they obtain a new passport.  Note that ESTA registration does not guarantee that a foreign national will be admitted to the United States; Visa Waiver Program travelers remain subject to inspection upon arrival and may be denied entry at the discretion of U.S. border officials.

If the ESTA application is denied or the traveler does not apply for ESTA clearance, a B-1/B-2 visa issued by a U.S. consulate is required for short-term business or tourism visits to the United States.