ESTA Timeline: Application, Duration, and Validity

Understanding the ESTA application timeline to ensure seamless travel to the United States

Last month, hundreds of British travelers were unable to travel to the United States due to an issue with the ESTA application system. As you can imagine, this caused widespread outrage and left many vacationers deeply disappointed. We will now look at how to avoid such an occurrence so that you never find yourself in the same situation.

What happened?

Periodically, updates must be made to the ESTA system to ensure optimal performance. In this instance, an update was implemented to allow Polish citizens to apply for an ESTA, following their recent approval as a member state of the Visa Waiver Program. This initially led to technical issues, meaning that ESTA applicants were unable to receive their authorizations instantly (while ESTA approvals are typically near-instantaneous, with applicants receiving their authorizations within minutes of submitting their applications).

In this instance, passengers scheduled for imminent flights who had not yet received their ESTA authorization were unable to board. Indeed, airlines cannot permit passengers to board flights bound for the United States without a valid travel authorization, whether it be an ESTA or a visa. Those who had already received their ESTA encountered no issues boarding their flights.

The key takeaway here is to plan ahead and apply for an ESTA as soon as your travel plans are confirmed. Of course, last-minute decisions to visit the United States can happen, and in those instances, delays may be unavoidable; however, the U.S. Embassy has always recommended submitting an ESTA application at least 72 hours before departure. To be truly safe, it is best to apply several months before your trip begins.

Ideally, your ESTA application should be completed before booking flights, accommodations, and activities. Not only would this prevent unfortunate complications like the one experienced last month, but there is also a slight chance that your application could be denied. If your online ESTA application is not approved, you will need to apply for the appropriate U.S. visa to travel. These visa applications can take weeks and may require in-person interviews at a U.S. embassy or consulate.

Key ESTA Tips

The lengthy visa application process only becomes stressful when a travel deadline is imminent.

It is far better to know that your ESTA application has been denied while you still have a few months to get your paperwork in order.

It is helpful to understand the other timelines associated with the ESTA, as well as the steps to take once your ESTA has expired. First, your ESTA becomes valid as soon as you receive your authorization confirmation via email. The authorization itself is valid for two years from that moment, or until your passport expires—whichever comes first. This means that, of course, by applying for your ESTA a few months before your trip, you will not benefit from its full period of validity, but that is certainly a small price to pay. The ESTA is an affordable and convenient way to travel to the United States, and a single application can be used for multiple trips.

In addition to the two-year validity of the ESTA authorization itself, each individual trip is limited to a maximum of 90 days. This is critical, as exceeding this 90-day limit violates the terms of the Visa Waiver Program, and you will likely be denied reentry to the United States under your ESTA. It should be noted, however, that this 90-day limit does not apply to the total duration of your ESTA’s validity, but rather to each individual visit.

As your ESTA approaches its expiration date, you will receive an email notifying you that your authorization is about to expire. Staying informed is essential so that you can plan your upcoming travels accordingly. While there is no way to renew an existing ESTA, you can apply for a new one just as easily as you did the first time.

Please note that you must submit a new ESTA application if you change your passport

As previously mentioned, your ESTA actually expires at the same time as your passport, which will be noted in your ESTA authorization email (you can always check your ESTA status online using your unique reference number). In fact, your ESTA is automatically linked to your passport, so when U.S. Border Patrol scans your passport, they can see that you have an ESTA. Along the same lines, if you hold two passports and travel to the United States with a passport that is not linked to your ESTA, the Border Patrol agent will not be able to see that you are authorized to travel. For this reason, it is critical that you use the passport linked to your ESTA application when traveling to the United States. When you receive a new passport, you must submit a new ESTA application just as you did the first time, and this authorization will be valid for a full two years. Visit official ESTA website.