permit requirements and costs

When traveling to the United States, one of the great advantages for passengers who have the dual citizenship (Italian or Spanish, for example) and, therefore, have a European passport, they do not need to apply for a tourist or business visitor visa (B1/B2) to enter the United States.

To enter, those Argentine travelers who have a European passport current must submit the application called ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization), that is, the Electronic System for Travel Authorization. A permission what is processed online Before starting the trip on the website: esta.cbp.dhs.gov

The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is an automated system used to determine which visitors can travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

The Electronic System for Travel Authorization crosses and verify the information in the data banks of the competent authorities.

Therefore, travelers who plan to travel to the United States with a European passport – that is, under the Visa Waiver Program – must obtain an electronic travel authorization before getting on the plane.

The system provides an automatic response, but an operator will electronically verify with the United States Customs and Border Protection that the person really has travel authorization approved and registered.

It must be taken into account that the European passport must be biometric or electronic (that has a chip). This requirement was incorporated at the beginning of 2016.

The requirements to apply for ESTA are:

• Passport. Have a valid and current passport from a country that is within the Visa Waiver Program. To give you an idea, Italy, Spain and most European countries are on the list.

• Personal information. Complete the personal information.

• Contacts. Enter email address, address and telephone number, as well as the telephone number of an emergency contact for the traveler.

The approximate average time to complete the application is estimated at less than 25 minutes.

You also have to attach passport photo.

The ESTA application costs US$21 per person.

You can pay with credit cards and PayPal.

The approval of the ESTA will be carried out within 72 hours of starting the process.

Approved applications are valid for 2 years or until the expiration of the passport, whichever comes first.

Therefore, travelers whose ESTA applications are approved, but whose passports expire in less than two years, will receive an ESTA authorization only valid until the expiration date of the passport.

The same permission allows multiple trips to the United States without the traveler having to request an ESTA authorization every time they travel.

To keep in mind: the traveler can only stay a maximum of up to 90 days on each trip.

The application to obtain the ESTA must be made at least 72 hours before departure.

Travelers who do not have approval at the time of check-in at the airport will not be able to board.