Re-entering on the Visa Waiver Program for the USA
In November last year I visited Florida, and as a New Zealand citizen, I had to go through the process of applying for and getting an ESTA (which costs money, making it feel suspiciously like a visa). Anyway, I've been told that it's valid for 2 years, so that when I re-enter the country in 9 days' time, I won't have to redo the entire process.
I can find documentation about the initial ESTA, but not reusing it. Can anyone confirm with an authoritative source that this is in fact the process?
Best Answer
What you will have applied for is an ESTA, or Electronic System for Travel Authorization.
In the past, if you wanted to enter the US under the visa waiver program, you'd just rock up in America and fill out the green I-94W form, and you didn't need to pay a fee. A few years ago, they changed the system, and now you need to apply for an ESTA before you travel to America. (Currently, ESTAs are only used for Air and Water arrivals, but they're planning to add Land Border crossings too). Originally, getting an ESTA was free, but they're recently introduced a small fee for it.
When applying for an ESTA, you supply various details. These are checked, and if you're approved then you should be fine to enter the US under the Visa Waiver Program. Various common reasons for being denied entry under the VWP are checked, so if you weren't going to be admitted then you should find out before you travel, rather than at immigration in America! In that way, it can be seen as an improvement, even with the fee...
Once issued, an ESTA is valid for the shortest of: 2 years, your passport expiring, or your passport being re-issued. You can use the ESTA website to check if your ESTA is still valid, even if you've forgotten the details, which is handy.
There shouldn't be any problem with applying for an ESTA, being approved, and not actually going to the USA for a year. All that means is that you'll need to re-apply again for a new ESTA quite soon after you trip! I know quite a few people who applied for an ESTA just before the fee was introduced, who didn't travel to the states then and there, and they haven't had any problems when they eventually came to travel.
(Having an ESTA isn't actually a visa, as it doesn't grant you the right to enter America. All it does is grant you the right to travel to America to apply for entry under the Visa Waiver Program, but they still reserve the right to not admit you. If you're turned down for the ESTA, then you'll need to travel to your nearest embassy and apply for a real visa)
Pictures about "Re-entering on the Visa Waiver Program for the USA"
How many times can you visit the USA on a visa waiver?
There is no limit on the number of times you may enter the U.S. under either ESTA of a visa. However, if reentering the U.S. using ESTA soon after staying for nearly 90 days, you can expect to be questioned in detail by the immigration officer about the purpose of your visit.Can I leave and reenter the US on ESTA?
Minimum waiting period between two trips to the USA with an ESTA. Travellers are not allowed to leave the United States for a short while and then come back solely to refresh the 90-day validity period. Even so, there is no official minimum required waiting period between two trips to the USA with an ESTA.Is the Visa Waiver Program multiple entry?
Each approved ESTA application generally is valid for two years and allows for multiple visits to the United States within that period without having to apply for another ESTA approval. Travelers whose passports will expire in less than two years will receive an ESTA valid until the passport's expiration date.How long do I have to leave America before I can re enter?
There is no set period you must remain outside the USA before returning but: "When traveling to the U.S. with the approved ESTA, you may only stay for up to 90 days at a time - and there should be a reasonable amount of time between visits so that the CBP Officer does not think you are trying to live here.About Visa Waiver Program | How to travel in US without a visa | Visa Waiver Program USA 2021 | DHS
More answers regarding re-entering on the Visa Waiver Program for the USA
Answer 2
I get emailed a lot about this now that I've asked this question AND answered a few similar ones, after going to/from Canada too.
Conclusion: You can re-enter on the same ESTA as many times as you want in the two years, provided you meet the other criteria. These include, but are not limited to:
- a maximum of 90 days in US, Canada, Mexico in a row
- if you're a resident of Mexico or Canada, the above rule doesn't matter
- you need a return ticket / ticket out of the US
- you may be subject to several questions about how you plan to support yourself
- you may be asked to provide evidence of your initial accommodation plans
- your passport must still be valid
- if you arrive by land, you might need to apply for a land visa, as the ESTA is for arrival by flights (some exceptions apply, if you did recently fly in less than 90 days ago)
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Charles Parker, Vitaly Kushnir, Following NYC, Following NYC