Renew or reapply for ESTA visa to re-enter USA?
I am an Australian travelling to Canada for 2 months then on to US (Inc. Hawaii) for 3 months but I want to to visit Lopez Island (inside US waters) during my first week in Canada.
How does the ESTA visa situation work here as my 90 days will start as soon as I arrive on Lopez Islands yet I am returning to America a couple of months later (and will be in US for longer than 90 days)?
Renew / re-apply??
Best Answer
It depends how you enter the US. ESTA is only valid and useful if you enter by air or sea (and ferries do not always count in this category).
So, as I suppose you will enter the US with a car (or via bus/train), you do not need ESTA at all. You just need to show up at the border and you will be given authorization to enter if everything is all right. The price of the entrance is around $6.
But you still have the issue of the 90 days. What will happen is that when you enter the US you will be given a I-94 which is a document used to track your entering/leaving dates. It should be given back to the Canadian custom agent if you leave for Canada, or to the airline if you leave by air.
So in your case, you should get an I-94 when first entering US, then give your I-94 when you leave the first time, and the next time you enter you get a new entrance authorization with a new I-94 that will be valid another 3 months.
Pictures about "Renew or reapply for ESTA visa to re-enter USA?"
Do I need to reapply for my ESTA?
2. When do I need to reapply for ESTA? If you intend to use the ESTA program after your ESTA has expired, you must apply for a new one. This is why the term \u201creapplication\u201d is used instead of \u201crenewal.\u201d There is no system for extending the expiration date of an ESTA through renewal.Can I renew my ESTA before it runs out?
You may apply for a new ESTA at any time, even before your current one expires. Your previous ESTA information will be invalidated and a new travel authorization number will be issued when you apply for the new ESTA.It is not possible to recover invalidated ESTA information.Can you renew an existing ESTA?
It is not possible to extend your ESTA but you are able to renew your ESTA. Your ESTA is valid for a maximum period of two years from issue, or until your passport expires if that is sooner. To renew your ESTA, you must submit a new application,in the same way that you submitted your previous one.Do I need to update my ESTA for a second trip?
As long as you received an ESTA authorization to travel, you do not have to reapply during the validity period. If your ESTA expires while in the United States (U.S.) it will not affect your departure. It is important to PRINT a copy of the document for your records.ESTA USA | Step by Step Guide
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Kindel Media, Kindel Media, Nataliya Vaitkevich, Anna Tarazevich