Everything you need to know about
the Visa Waiver Program

Visa Waiver Program

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) permits citizens of 36 participating countries to enter the U.S. for tourism or business (visitor [B] visa purposes only) for stays of 90 days or less without having to go to a U.S. consulate and apply for a visa.

VWP eligible travelers may apply for a visa, if they need to visit the U.S. for longer than 90 days or intend to change to another non-immigrant visa, such as a student visa , after they enter.

VWP visitor are required to have a valid authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to travel, are screened at the port of entry into the United States, and are enrolled in the Department of Homeland Security’s US-VISIT program.

After entry, the visa waiver holder must leave by the 90th day following entry; otherwise they probably will not be permitted to return to the U.S. as a visitor. Under the program, there is no extension of the visa allowed, nor can you change status while in the U.S., except is you are an immediate relative of a U.S. citizen.

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Apply for an Authorization to Travel to the United States

The Visa Waiver Program

Source for FAQ's: ESTA Screen Level Online

Visa Waiver Program

Applying for a Travel Authorization

How do I apply for authorization to travel to the United States?

What information do I need to complete the application?

Do travelers need to bring a paper printout of their travel authorization to the airport?

Is this Web site secure and private?

What does my computer need to use the ESTA to submit an application for authorization to travel to the United States?

Does a traveler ever need to reapply for a travel authorization through ESTA?

Updating a Travel Authorization

What information can I update?

What should I do if the information on my passport has changed?

How can applicants correct a mistake on their application?

How can applicants correct a mistake on Passport Issuance Date or Passport Expiration Date after completing their travel authorization application in ESTA?

Do travelers need to update their travel authorization if it will expire before they depart for the United States?

What if I want to update my application and do not have my Application Number?

Payment Required for a Travel Authorization

Is there a fee for a travel authorization?

How do I pay for my travel authorization?

Is the credit card information I use for payment secure?

ESTA Data Privacy

How does the U. S. government protect the privacy of ESTA data and who has access to it?

How long is the travel authorization application data stored?

Does DHS share ESTA data with others?

Travel Not Authorized

What should a traveler do if he or she is not approved for travel through ESTA?

Should a traveler not authorized for travel through ESTA reapply?

How can a traveler find out the reason a travel authorization was denied?

If a traveler was denied approval and needs to travel immediately, is it possible to get an emergency visa appointment at a United States Embassy or Consulate?

Troubleshooting

What if I want to update my application and do not have my Application Number?

What does my computer need to use the ESTA to submit an application for authorization to travel to the United States?

What is a travel authorization?

To strengthen the security of travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program, requirements to travel visa-free have been enhanced. Nationals of Visa Waiver Program countries will still be eligible to travel without a visa but will have to obtain an approved travel authorization prior to their travel to the United States.

Here is how the travel authorization process works:

The Department of Homeland Security and the United States Customs and Border Protection have provided a secure public Web site with an automated form for you, or a third party, to complete in order to apply for a travel authorization. Once you enter the required biographic, travel, and credit card information on the secure Web site, your application is processed by the system to determine if you are eligible to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program without a visa. The system will provide you with an automated response, and prior to boarding, a carrier will electronically verify with the United States Customs and Border Protection that you have an approved travel authorization on file.

Field	Description
Birth Date, Day	Choose the day on which you were born. The day of birth is required to complete the application or to check the status of your application.
Birth Date, Month	Choose the month in which you were born. The month of birth is required to complete the application or to check the status of your application.
Birth Date, Year	Choose the year in which you were born. The year of birth is required to complete the application or to check the status of your application.
Country Where You Live	Choose the country in which you reside. The country where you live is required to complete the application.
E-mail Address	Enter the e-mail address at which you can be contacted. The e-mail address is optional to complete the application.
Family Name	Enter your family name as the family name appears on your passport under the Family Name or Surname field. The family name is required to complete the application.
First (Given) Name	Enter your first (given) name as the first name appears on your passport under the First or Given Name field. Do not include the middle name in this field. First name is required to complete the application. If you do not have a first name, then enter the letters FNU which stands for First Name Unknown.
Sex	Choose your gender, either male or female. The sex (gender) is required to complete the application.
Telephone Number, Country Code	Choose the country code of the telephone number where you can be contacted. The country code and telephone number are optional to complete the application.
Telephone Number	Enter the telephone number where you can be contacted. The telephone number is optional to complete the application.

Field	Description
Passport Expiration Date, Day	Choose the day on which your passport expires, as it appears on your passport under the Expiration Date or Extension field. The day on which the passport expires is required to complete the application.
Passport Expiration Date, Month	Choose the month in which your passport expires, as it appears on your passport under the Expiration Date or Extension field. The month in which the passport expires is required to complete the application.
Passport Expiration Date, Year	Choose the year in which your passport expires, as it appears on your passport under the Expiration Date or Extension field. The year in which the passport expires is required to complete the application.
Passport Issuance Date, Day	Choose the day on which your passport was issued, as it appears on your passport under the Date of Issue field. The day on which the passport was issued is required to complete the application.
Passport Issuance Date, Month	Choose the month in which your passport was issued, as it appears on your passport under the Date of Issue field. The month in which the passport was issued is required to complete the application.
Passport Issuance Date, Year	Choose the year in which your passport was issued, as it appears on your passport under the Date of Issue field. The year in which the passport was issued is required to complete the application.
Passport Issuing Country	Choose the country of citizenship, as it appears on your passport. The passport issuing country is required to complete the application.
Passport Number	Enter your passport number as it appears on your passport. Enter your passport number as it appears on your passport. The passport number may contain numbers and/or characters. Please closely distinguish between the number zero and the letter O. The passport number is required to complete the application or to check the status of your application. The passport number is required to complete the application or to check the status of your application.

Field	Description
Carrier Information, Carrier Name	Choose the carrier name for the carrier on which you will be traveling to the United States, if your travel information is available. The carrier name is optional to complete the application.
Carrier Information, Flight Number or Vessel Name	Enter the flight number or vessel name for the carrier on which you will be traveling to the United States, if your travel information is available. The flight number or vessel name is optional to complete the application.
City Where You are Boarding	Enter the last city where you will board an aircraft prior to arriving in the United States on this trip. The city where the applicant will board is optional to complete the application.

Field	Description
Address Line 1	Enter the number and street of the location where you will stay while in the United States. Do not include the city and state in this field. Address Line 1 is optional to complete the application. If multiple locations are planned, enter the first address. If the complete address is not known, enter the name of the hotel or location you will visit. You may update this information once confirmed. If you are leaving the United States immediately and do not have an address, enter the words ”In Transit” and your final destination location.
Address Line 2	Enter apartment, suite, unit, floor, building, or other, if appropriate. Do not include the city and state in this field. Address line 2 is optional to complete the application.
City	Enter the city of the address where you will stay while in the United States. The city is optional to complete the application.
State	Enter the state of the address where you will stay while in the United States. The state is optional to complete the application.

Field	Description
First Name	Enter the first name of the account holder. Must not contain any of the following characters: !@#$%^*()_+={}\|[]\:;<>?/~
Middle Initial	Enter the middle initial of the account holder. Must not contain any of the following characters: !@#$%^*()_+={}\|[]\:;<>?/~
Last Name	Enter the last name of the account holder. Must not contain any of the following characters: !@#$%^*()_+={}\|[]\:;<>?/~
Billing Address	Enter the billing street address for the credit card. Must not contain any of the following characters: !@#$%^*()_+={}\|[]\:;<>?/~
Billing Address 2	Enter additional billing street information, if applicable. Must not contain any of the following characters: !@#$%^*()_+={}\|[]\:;<>?/~
City	Enter the billing city of the credit card. Must not contain any of the following characters: !@#$%^*()_+={}\|[]\:;<>?/~
Country	Select the appropriate billing country of the credit card from the list of countries.
State/Province	If the Country is the United States, Canada, or Mexico, select the appropriate state/province from the State/Province list. For all other countries, the State/Province must not contain any of the following characters: !@#$%^*()_+={}\|[]\:;<>?/~
Postal/Zip Code	Enter the billing postal code of the credit card. A U.S. Zip Code format must be 5 or 9 digits (no dash). A Canadian Postal Code must be in the format AnAnAn, where ‘A’ is an uppercase letter and ‘n’ is a number. A Mexican Postal Code must be 5 digits.
Credit Card Type	Select the appropriate credit card type from the list.
Credit Card Number	Enter the credit card number. Must be digits only
Expiration Date	Select the appropriate month and year from the Expiration Date list. Cannot be before the current date.
Security Code	Enter the credit card security code. Must be digits only.
Cancel	Click the Cancel button to cancel payment.
Submit Payment	Click the Submit Payment button to submit credit card payment.

Question	Help
A) Do you have a communicable disease; physical or mental disorder; or are you a drug abuser or addict?	Communicable Diseases Under United States law communicable diseases of public health significance include: Chancroid Gonorrhea Granuloma inguinale Leprosy, infectious Lymphogranuloma venereum Syphilis, infectious stage Tuberculosis, active And others as determined by the Department of Health and Human Services. Physical or Mental Disorders With regard to physical or mental disorders, answer ”Yes” to this question if: (a) You currently have a physical or mental disorder and a history of behavior associated with the disorder that may pose or has posed a threat to your property, safety or welfare or that of others; or (b) You had a physical or mental disorder and a history of behavior associated with the disorder that has posed a threat to your property, safety or welfare or that of others and the behavior is likely to recur or lead to other harmful behavior. Answer ”No” if: (a) You currently have no physical or mental disorders; or (b) You have or had a physical or mental disorder without associated behavior that may pose or has posed a threat to your property, safety or welfare of that of others; or (c) You currently have a physical or mental disorder with associated behavior, but that behavior has not posed, does not currently pose nor will pose a threat to your property, safety or welfare or that of others; or (d) You had a physical or mental disorder with associated behavior that posed a threat to your property, safety or welfare or that of others, but that behavior is unlikely to recur. Drug Abusers and Drug Addicts Under United States law persons may not be admissible if they have been determined to be a drug abuser or drug addict. For further information refer to § 212(a)(1)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(1)(A), and corresponding regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations.
B) Have you ever been arrested or convicted for an offense or crime involving moral turpitude or a violation related to a controlled substance; or been arrested or convicted for two or more offenses for which the aggregate sentence to confinement was five years or more; or been a controlled substance trafficker; or are you seeking entry to engage in criminal or immoral activities?	Crimes involving moral turpitude - Such offenses generally involve conduct which is inherently base, vile, or depraved and contrary to the accepted rules of morality and the duties owed to persons or society in general. There are factors, such as the age of the offender or the date of the offense, that may affect whether an offense will be considered a crime involving moral turpitude for purposes of the Immigration and Nationality Act. For further information refer to § 212(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(2), § 101(a)(43) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(43) and corresponding regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations.
C) Are you seeking to work in the U.S.; or have you ever been excluded and deported; or been previously removed from the United States; or procured or attempted to procure a visa or entry into the U.S. by fraud or misrepresentation?	Individuals entering the United States under the Visa Waiver Program are admitted as non-immigrant alien visitors and may not seek employment in the United States. While Visa Waiver Program travelers may not seek employment in the United States, there are many classifications of non-immigrant and immigrant employment-sponsored visas for those who qualify. For further information refer to § 212(a)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(5). For further information on non-immigrant and immigrant employment visas, refer to www.travel.state.gov.
D) Have you ever detained, retained, or withheld custody of a child from a U.S. citizen granted custody of the child?	Any alien who, after entry of an order by a court in the United States granting custody to a person of a United States citizen child who detains or retains the child, or withholds custody of the child, outside the United States from the person granted custody by that order, is inadmissible until the child is surrendered to the person granted custody by that order. For further information refer to § 212(a)(10)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(10)(C).
E) Have you ever asserted immunity from prosecution?	With regard to immunity from prosecution, answer ”Yes” to this question if all of the following apply: (a) you have committed a serious criminal offense in the United States as defined in 8 U.S.C. Sec. 1101(h), including any felony, at any time for which immunity from criminal jurisdiction was exercised; and (b) as a consequence of the offense and exercise of immunity identified in (a), you have departed from the United States; and (c) you have not subsequently submitted fully to the jurisdiction of the court in the United States having jurisdiction with respect to that offense. For further information refer to § 212(a)(2)(E) and 101(h) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(2)(E) and 1101(h).

Everything you need to know about the Visa Waiver Program

Click Here to

Apply for an Authorization to Travel to the United States

Everything you need to know about
the Visa Waiver Program