ESTA Visa and USA (After quitting current job)
I am currently residing in the UAE and working in Abu Dhabi. I hold a Greek passport and was planning to visit the US (ESTA) but only after I quit from the company. My question is, If my residency is canceled in UAE. Can I still apply ? I know it is an online application but does it matter being jobless or not for tourism visit? What If i apply for it and then quit my company? I read somewhere I need proof for strong ties to UAE, like an approval letter, but I do not want to involve them. Also does it matter from which country to leave to USA?
Best Answer
The US government insists that the ESTA is not a visa. This is disputed by some in that it matches a lot of the characteristics of a visa, however, it differs in some important ways for you:
There will be none of the assessment that you are used to for a visa. The ESTA checks are basically automated checks to make sure that you are eligible for the Visa Waiver Program.
You can see the full rules on the CBP website here, but to quickly summarzie:
- You are visiting the US for tourist or for a limited list of "business" purposes
- You hold citizenship from a VWP national country (Greece is one of these, but note that not all EU countries are)
- You have an ESTA (if entering by commercial air or sea carrier)
- You are not a citizen from, or visitor to since 2011: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or Yemen
- You haven't ever overstayed in the US
- You haven't been convicted of certain categories of crime
They don't care or assess if you have a job, nor is any assessment made on your home address. There are only automated checks done on these things.
Note that when you attempt to enter the USA, then the CBP officer at the border can probe further in to your circumstances - but the ESTA you can expect to apply for and receive within minutes, regardless of circumstances.
See this Question and Answer for more info on the VWP and ESTA.
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How long do I have to leave the US before I can return ESTA?
Therefore, the length of time of your total stay, including the short trip, must be 90 days or less.Can you be denied entry with ESTA?
If you already have an approved ESTA, you may still be denied entry to the United States without a visa refusal. On the one hand, the ESTA or any other visa does not guarantee that you can enter the USA. The customs and border guards alone decide whether you are allowed to enter or not.How long do I have to wait to reapply for ESTA?
You may apply for a new ESTA before or after a previous one has expired. There are no restrictions on the number of times you can obtain a new ESTA authorization which is valid for two years from the date of issue. If you wanted to, you even could apply for a new ESTA again the day after obtaining the previous one.Why would an ESTA be revoked?
An approved ESTA application is generally valid for two years. However, if your passport expires before your ESTA, the legislation states that your ESTA must also expire at the same time. If your passport expires during the two-year authorization period, your travel authorization will be revoked on the same day.What 10 things YOU must to know about ESTA travel authorization. Visa Waiver Program
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