When it comes to traveling to the USA, it’s important to know that you need a visa in order to gain access to the country. However, to make the process a little bit easier, the USA has a visa waiver program known as ESTA, which allows citizens of certain countries to enter the country visa-free. If you are going on business, a visa or visa waiver is one of the 5 most important things you should take. Here we go into depth about what the visa waiver does, and how it can help you when it comes to traveling to the USA.
What Is The ESTA Visa Waiver?
The Visa Waiver program is exactly what it says on the tin – it essentially waives a citizen’s need for a visa. Under the program, citizens or national of specific member countries can travel to the USA without an America visa and they’re allowed to stay for up to 90 days, as long as they’re traveling for tourism or business purposes. There are 38 member countries that qualify for a visa waiver, and these include: Andorra, France, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Chile, Brunei, Australia, and many other European countries. If you qualify for the visa waiver program, then you can miss out on the lengthy process that it takes to get a US visa. The visa waiver can be used by travellers entering either by air or by sea, and visitors are required to hold a valid Electronic System for Travel Authorization in order to take advantage of the scheme.
Why Is The ESTA Visa Waiver Vital?
The visa waiver was introduced as part of a security system, in order to allow citizens of relevant countries who meet required security standards set out by the Department for Homeland Security, to travel to the country. It filters out people from the authorization process who don’t meet certain standards, and helps to improve the efficiency of the visa process while continuing to keep the security up to scratch. The waiver program was put in place in 2008.
How Can The Program Help You?
Quite simply, the visa waiver program helps to make the process of applying for a visa faster and more efficient, rather than making every applicant to travel to the UK have a formal interview and enrol in the lengthy visa process. Although even if the ESTA is approved, it does not guarantee that the traveller will be admitted by US customs border and protection officers, but it is the only way to be legally allowed into the country without a visa. It is only necessary for a traveller who is in the country for 90 days consecutively, if they are there for tourism or business. 99% of all ESTA visa applicants are approved, and the ESTA is valid for two years, making the process even easier for travellers. On top of all of this, the ESTA will help you to have a hassle-free holiday, ensuring that you can visit all of the states that you want to within the 90 day period. You can travel to America in a quick and efficient way with the ESTA visa waiver program. It is recommended that you apply for the ESTA at least 3 days before your travel to the US.
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How The USA’s ESTA Visa Program Will Help You originally appeared on The Daily MBA on August 27, 2016.