Citizens of nearly forty countries are eligible to enter the U.S. as visitors using the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). This saves them the time and inconvenience of applying for a U.S. visa. Individuals using the VWP can be admitted for up to 30 days, must have a round trip ticket and cannot change or extend their status. For additional information about the VWP and visa waiver countries, click here.
Persons entering the U.S. under the VWP, are required to register on the Electronic System for Travel Arrangements (ESTA) website. Administered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB), the ESTA website collects information about travelers and pre-screens them, using a network of data base systems linked to law enforcement and national security.
CBP has recently announced upgrades to its ESTA website. The upgrades are designed to make the ESTA process more user-friendly by improving the website’s navigation and functionality, by allowing users to check applications on their smartphones and by translating the webpages into one of 23 different languages at any point in the application process.
CBP has confirmed that VWP users who have applied for ESTA on the old website will be able to access their applications on the new site. Also, VWP users with a valid ESTA registration do not need to reapply until their current ESTA expires or they obtain a new passport. ESTA applications can only be submitted through their official site and must be submitted at least 72 hours prior to the VWP user’s intended travel date. For more information on ESTA, click here.