ESTA BLOG

Visiting Canada or Mexico after arriving in the US under the VWP

If you’re crossing the Atlantic and going all the way to the USA from Britain, it’s often quite tempting to make the most of the journey and explore the neighbouring countries. So how do you go about taking a trip to Canada or Mexico from the USA?

As a UK passport holder you can apply to visit the USA under the Visa Waiver Programme, using the ‘Electronic System for Travel Authorisation’, or ‘ESTA’ as it’s more commonly known.… READ MORE

So you’ve applied for ESTA… What now?

The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) application process is carried out entirely online, and only takes around 10 to 15 minutes. The only thing you need to have to hand is your passport and a method of payment. You can check out our other blog articles and our ESTA guide for more information on how to fill out the form, but here we’re going to look at what happens next.
 
Once you have submitted your ESTA application,… READ MORE

The new travel ban: what you need to know

Essentially the core components of Trump’s new travel ban do not differ greatly from the ones that preceded it. Like before, the ban affects people from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. The main difference is that people from these six countries who have close ties with the United States will still be allowed to travel.
 
It is worth highlighting at this point that none of these six countries form part of the Visa Waiver Programme, and… READ MORE

Biometric Screening and the Visa Waiver Program

Biometrics are already used effectively with people visiting the USA with visas, but of course when people travel with ESTA, under the Visa Waiver Program, the whole point of this system is that they do not need to apply for a visa.
 
So what are we talking about here? The term ‘biometrics’ simply refers to metrics, or measurements, that are based on human characteristics. This concept already has a wide range of applications in modern society; just think… READ MORE

The VWP conditions are important: Here’s why...

Last week, the US Department of Homeland Security released its annual report on people who overstay the amount of time they were authorised to be in the USA.

This report provides specific figures on how many people were expected to depart the country during 2016 on the basis of their travel authorisation. This is divided broadly into people travelling under the Visa Waiver Programme, and people who are not travelling under the Visa Waiver Programme (i.e. people travelling… READ MORE

Your passport and your ESTA – an inseparable couple

As a British citizen you are eligible to apply for ESTA online, which is the quickest and easiest method for getting into the United States as a tourist or on business. ESTA is an automatic, electronic form of travel authorisation, which waives the need for a visa.

This system has been in place for many years now, and is at a point where there are 38 participating countries. Having slowly changed and developed over time, the ESTA visa… READ MORE

The Story behind the Stars and Stripes

Could you picture the US flag with your eyes closed? Probably, more or less. But would you be able draw it from scratch, with no reference? Hmm, perhaps not (granted – England has it a little easier). Do you know the nooks and crannies of the story that led to its design?
 
Well many of us will never have seen any variation to the current US flag, which has been left unchanged since 1960. Two years earlier, a… READ MORE

Catch a taping in the USA

There’s something iconic about US sitcoms, with often what sounds like canned laughter at all-too-frequent intervals. However, that’s not always the case; when sitcoms are filmed, there is normally a live audience there, who are simply told when to laugh/boo/chuckle/aww, etc. The canned laughter (also known as fake laughter) is normally only used when necessary; if the real laughter on the day did not go on long enough, or was too quiet, etc. Interestingly, to record canned laughter itself, audiences… READ MORE

Will Americans need visas to come to Europe?

As it stands, members of Visa Waiver Programme member countries are able to apply for ESTA online. ESTA stands for the ‘Electronic System for Travel Authorisation’, and citizens apply for this on an individual basis – if they meet the criteria (and the vast majority do), they are allowed to visit the USA without needing to apply for a visa. The UK is very much in this category, and was the first country to participate in the Visa Waiver Programme… READ MORE

UK citizens with dual nationality: travelling to the USA

As you probably know, the United Kingdom forms part of the Visa Waiver Program, which allows its citizens to visit the USA with an ESTA authorisation (which stands for the ‘Electronic System for Travel Authorisation’). The ESTA can be only be applied for online, making it a much quicker and simpler process than the traditional US visa application process.
 
When you fill in your online ESTA application form, there is a tick box that asks you whether you… READ MORE

Big Sur: Where the mountains meet the sea

The Big Sur makes for a fantastic component of any California trip, and can be very easily explored with a rental car and a few days to spare. As a British citizen, you can apply for ESTA online, which is alternative travel authorisation to the traditional US visa. ESTA allows you to visit the USA as a tourist or on business for periods of up to 90 days at a time, and lasts for up to two years.
  … READ MORE

2017 will welcome new flight routes to the USA

Thanks to the Visa Waiver Programme, British citizens are able to apply for ESTA online, which means we no longer have to go through the tedious process of applying for a traditional US visa.
When it comes to flying to the USA, there is already an ample selection of flight destinations, with many airlines operating to and fro. Nevertheless, it can sometimes feel as though this choice is slightly restricted, either by price, or by the need for layovers… READ MORE

Ten things you should know about the ESTA and the VWP

As UK citizens, we can travel to the USA without the need to apply for a visa thanks to the Visa Waiver Programme. Instead of a visa, Brits can travel to the United States using the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation, or ‘ESTA’. Despite being a simple process, many travellers are unsure exactly how the Visa Waiver Programme works, and what exactly the ESTA is.
 
 

1. The ESTA is not a visa

 
When you are… READ MORE

Will the Visa Waiver Program change under Trump?

In the run-up to November’s presidential election, many claims were made on both sides of the fence with respect to how the country would be run as of next year. One of the comments that caught our attention came from President-Elect Trump, as he discussed his thoughts on the Visa Waiver Programme: as part of his strong stance on borders, he called for the programme to be ended.
 
So, could Trump’s presidency result in policy changes that seriously… READ MORE

Looking for a DIY road trip with a difference?

Once you’ve got your ESTA travel authorisation sorted, here’s what you can do if you have just 10 days to spare…

First of all, consider your season. Did you know that whilst November in Britain is pretty much guaranteed to be dull and wet (not to mention short on evening light), over there in the South West of the USA they are basking in sunny days long enough - and cool enough - for all your best sight…

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