Embassy of the United States Maputo, Mozambique

Electronic System for Travel Authorization

More than 15 million visitors from Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries arrived in the U.S. during Fiscal Year 2007. By addressing security issues related to the VWP, Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) will strengthen and preserve the program and allow for future expansion.

Who needs ESTA authorization?

Beginning January 12, 2009 all travelers from Visa Waiver countries will be required to obtain an ESTA authorization prior to boarding a carrier to travel by air or sea to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. Travelers who have not received ESTA approval after this date may be denied boarding, experience delayed processing, or be denied admission at a U.S. port of entry.

Travelers are strongly encouraged to obtain voluntary ESTA authorization for travel to the United States under the VWP beginning October 15, 2008. By obtaining their ESTA authorization early, travelers will accelerate their inspection process upon arrival at a U.S. port of entry. CBP will not, however, be implementing any fines for non-compliance at this time.

Travelers are not required to have specific plans to travel to the United States under the VWP before they apply for an ESTA authorization. DHS recommends that an ESTA approval be obtained as soon as a VWP traveler begins to plan a trip to the United States, and no later than 72 hours before departure. ESTA has, however, been designed to allow for the accommodation of last minute and emergency travelers.

Accompanied and unaccompanied children, regardless of age, will be required to obtain an independent ESTA authorization and determination of eligibility.

How do I obtain an ESTA authorization?

To apply for authorization to travel to the United States under the VWP, travelers will log on to the ESTA web-based system and complete an application online providing the biographical and eligibility information currently required on the paper I-94W form. The ESTA web-based system will be available for voluntary applications after Aug. 1, 2008.

ESTA applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel to the United States, and VWP travelers are encouraged to apply for authorization as soon as they begin to plan a trip to the United States. If applicants’ destination addresses or itineraries should change after their authorization has been approved, they may easily update that information through the ESTA website.

Once an ESTA application has been successfully completed and submitted online, the application will be queried against appropriate law enforcement databases. ESTA application data will remain active for the period of time that the ESTA authorization is valid. DHS will maintain this information for an additional year, and then will archive the information for twelve years to allow retrieval of the information for law enforcement and investigatory purposes.

In most cases, ESTA will provide an almost immediate determination of eligibility for travel under the VWP. Possible responses include: Authorization Approved, Travel Not Authorized, or Authorization Pending.

What is an approved ESTA travel authorization?

An approved ESTA travel authorization is:

• valid for up to two years or until the traveler’s passport expires, whichever comes first;
•  valid for multiple entries into the U.S.; and
•  not a guarantee of admissibility to the United States at a port of entry. ESTA approval only authorizes a traveler to board a carrier for travel to the U.S. under the VWP. In all cases, CBP officers make admissibility determinations at our ports of entry. (For additional information, please visit “Know Before You Go” at www.CBP.gov/travel.)

In the event that an ESTA applicant is denied authorization to travel to the United States
under the VWP, he or she will be referred to www.travel.state.gov for information on how to apply for a visa to travel to the United States. This process is similar to the current practice, in which VWP travelers who arrive at a United States port of entry and are determined by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to be ineligible for admission under the VWP may be returned to their country of origin to apply for a visa to enter the United States. It will be far more convenient for most travelers to receive this notification before commencing travel.

ESTA determines, prior to an individual boarding a U.S.-bound carrier, whether the individual is eligible to travel to the United States under the VWP. Travelers with approved ESTA authorizations are allowed to travel to the U.S., but may be denied admission for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to prior criminal record or discoveries made during the admission process.

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