ESTA processing time

The U.S. Visa Waiver Program allows nationals of partner countries to simplify their access to the United States. Indeed, the fully digitalized process allows for a quick application.

For a stay of less than 90 days in the USA: It is not necessary to obtain a visa. Simply obtain an electronic travel authorization by clicking on the online form.

The criteria for obtaining ESTA have been established by the US Department of Homeland Security. The State Department handles American visas. The implementation of this approach has significantly reduced the processing time for these travel authorizations. The response to the ESTA authorization request is issued within 72 hours and is available online on the official ESTA website.

In the case of a pending ESTA or an ESTA refusal, no information is provided. If you want to know more about the reasons for a delay or denial, then you should contact the DHS Travel Redress Inquiry Program (TRIP). This department is authorized to communicate on this subject. No U.S. embassy or consulate is able to provide information to ESTA applicants, as the process is handled exclusively by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Before contacting the TRIP service, we advise you to carefully review the information entered in your ESTA form, because in most cases, the refusal is justified by a typing error.

Answer within 72 hours and valid for 2 years

Applying for an ESTA has many advantages: the response time is quick and the validity period is long enough to allow for multiple visits. The ESTA is valid for two years, which means that applicants can visit the USA several times during this period. The duration of the stay must not exceed 90 consecutive days. The passport must still be valid.

The traveler with an ESTA can therefore visit the U.S. territory as many times as he or she wishes, but must still pass through the controls of the border agents. This is called a double-entry authorization.

The ESTA application is done online. The price of the ESTA is a minimum of $21. This fee represents the mandatory taxes that must be paid online to validate the application. The response time is shorter than for a visa. U.S. authorities encourage travelers to use this service rather than the more time-consuming and staff-intensive visa service.