VISA

Every traveler should be aware of the rules for entering the United States, as applying for the wrong tourist visa or arriving without the necessary documentation will result in entrance being denied.

ESTA is a 90-day visa waiver program for certain tourists (Electronic System for Travel Authorization). This travel permission is processed through the United States Visa Waiver Program, which allows you to visit the United States without a visa! To acquire an ESTA, you must be a citizen of a member country (mainly European countries, Australia, and Japan), traveling to the United States for 90 days or fewer on business or pleasure, have a valid passport, and an accepted ESTA application.

It takes roughly 20 minutes to complete the application online, and it costs only $14 USD. Your ESTA is valid for two years after approval, and you can visit the United States as often as you like. Each visit, however, must be no longer than 90 days.

It's vital to understand that the 90-day period begins when you land in the United States. When you pass the border into adjacent nations like Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean, it does not stop or reset. So keep this in mind when you plan your trip; you don't want to end up paying overstay costs or being deported!