Are you making a request from ESTA to go to the United States? The point on the benefits of the new form of the Electronic Travel Automation System.
He is your entry passport in Uncle Sam’s country. ISESA - or Electronic Travel Automation System in French - is an indispensable requirement to stay at United States , the time of a short stay. The goal, among other things, to update the visa exemption program. And whatever your traveler profile is! The principle is simple: 72 hours minimum before your departure, you must complete a form available on the official website of the Department of Internal Security.
Since its inception in 2009, the form in question has been constantly evolving and has undergone some changes to strengthen procedural security. What are they? What are the benefits? The point on the latest.
ISTA: How does it work?
If the application for a classic visa is made at the consulate, ESTA , he chose a 2.0 procedure with the establishment of an online form. Simpler, faster, the method used to validate requests for authorization in less than 24 hours. A significant amount of time that, however, should not result in a last-minute approach: in order to be sure to receive authorization in time, it is strongly recommended to make your request at least 72 hours before your departure .
Before anything, you must be in possession of one biometric passport or electronics valid for the duration of your stay (its number and the country of receipt will be required) and a credit card.
The steps to proceed with the application are as follows:
- Log in to the official website
- Access the form request
- Contact your personal information
- Answer “eligibility questions” (especially if you have committed crimes, major offences, why you visit the United States...)
- Validate your information
- Proceed to the payment of the ESTA
Good to know. : - Do you want additional information to prepare your next trip to the United States? Click here - If since 2011 you have traveled to Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Iran, Somalia, Libya or Yemen, you will not be able to get the ISSA: you will be required to apply for a Visa to land on American soil.
New form: what changes
Additional questions
By security, the procedure is strengthened over time with more questions. If they may seem inquisitorial, they are primarily intended to obtain a better assessment of each profile. For this reason, since 2014, you need to find out more:
- Your other names
- Your other citizenships
- The names of your parents
- The information to contact you in the United States as a telephone number, an email address, your contact points...
- Job information if you visit for business
- Your city of birth
These questions are added to the 9 “ eligibility issues "to determine if you represent a risk in terms of crimes, offences, communicable diseases... If a "yes" is checked among your answers, no need to specify that your request will be necessarily rejected.
Social media
Since December 2015 and with the aim of further protecting the American soil of foreign terrorists, a new law has entered into force. Requirements have been added to the criteria of the Visa Exemption Program, inducing new rules for the ESA.
In addition to additional questions, the new form includes a new entry -for the moment is optional - for social networks. In the latter, you are invited to communicate the identifiers of your personal profile used for each social network on which you are registered.
New information that allows the Department of Internal Security to conduct the necessary legal checks, based on the information available on the social networks of each applicant. The goal? According to the authorities, the introduction of this new section allows a better location of terrorist groups that, in fact, frequently use social networks to communicate and penetrate American soil.
Form strengthening: benefits
Each evolution tends to improve the ISESA’s application procedure. Enhanced measures highlighting four main benefits:
- No physical interview
- Easy and simplified procedure
- Faster
- Enhanced security and protection
Need more information? Click here to learn more about mandatory travel authorization.
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