Embassy of the United States Riga, Latvia

HTTPS://ESTA.CBP.DHS.GOV/

Citizens of Latvia and other U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries may apply for travelling to the United States without a visa if they plan a short term leisure or business trip. VWP applies for all territories of the United States of America, including Puerto Rico, Guam, and the US-Virgin Islands.

Apply for an appropriate U.S. visa if:

• you have a different purpose of travel, for example, studies, temporary work, work on ships, immigration etc;
• you are a Latvian non-citizens (Alien's passport holders);
• you don't meet the requirements for traveling visa-free or your ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) application is denied.

If you have a valid tourist/business (B1/B2) visa, continue travelling with that visa until it expires. DO NOT register in ESTA. Follow this link for information on using an unexpired visa after being issued a new passport.

Travelers who hold dual citizenship with the United States MUST enter and depart the United States on their U.S. passports.

Basic requirements for applying to travel without a visa:

1. You hold a Latvian citizen passport issued after November 20, 2007 (citizens of other VWP countries, please refer to website http://travel.state.gov/ for information on passport requirements);
2. You have NOT been refused a U.S. visa or admission to the United States in the past;
3. You have NOT violated the conditions of the VWP on your previous visits or been deported from the U.S. in the past;
4. You have NO criminal record;
5. You are NOT a U.S. citizen, and do NOT possess a valid or expired U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident Card, Form I-551;
6. Your purpose of travel is tourism, visiting friends/relatives, or business meetings;
7. You plan a short term trip that does not exceed 90 days (a return ticket should be presented upon arrival);

8. You will enter the United States by air or sea aboard an approved carrier (PDF - 230 kB).

   The VWP permits arrivals by land from Mexico and Canada at land border ports-of-entry (POEs) - ESTA registration is NOT needed (www.cbp.gov), but travelers must otherwise meet the requirements for traveling without a visa. They will be required to complete a form I-94W Arrival/Departure Record and pay a 6 USD fee at a U.S. port-of-entry.

APPLY FOR YOUR TRAVEL AUTHORISATION IN ESTA: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/

• All new ESTA applications are subject to an ESTA application fee of 14 USD payable by a credit card.
• All answers provided on your ESTA application have to be true and correct to the best of your knowledge. When misrepresentation is discovered (i.e., about prior criminal records, visa denials, deportation from the United States), an ESTA approval received may be overridden and denied. That could result in denial of admission to the United States at the port of entry.
• Please PRINT the page that shows your ESTA number and the approval notification, if your application is approved. Airline representatives may require you to present it prior to the registration for boarding.
• Unless revoked, ESTA authorizations are valid for repeat use for two years from the date of authorization, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. Update your travel information and check the expiration date every time you plan a trip.

WARNING: VWP travelers should be aware that unauthorized third-parties have established Web sites, which charge visitors seeking to travel to the United States under the VWP, for information about ESTA™ and for submitting ESTA™ applications to DHS on behalf of the traveler. These businesses and Web sites are not endorsed by, associated with, or affiliated in any way with DHS or the United States Government. Use of a private service to apply for travel authorization via ESTA™ will not expedite the granting of approval.