Understanding the intricacies of the administration can be a headache, especially when it’s a foreign administration. You’ve just applied for ESTA to travel to the USA, but don’t understand the resulting ESTA status. We explain everything you need to know in this article.

What does the ESTA approved status?

Having ESTA approved status means that you meet all the criteria of the visa waiver program set up by the US government. As a result, you are authorized to travel to the USA with ESTA authorization, and do not need to apply for a tourist visa.

The ESTA is now electronically linked to your passport, and can be checked by U.S. customs officials at the border when you arrive on U.S. soil.

From now on, you don’t have to worry about ESTA statuses and can simply concentrate your efforts on preparing your stay in the USA. Build a tailor-made trip to match your American dream.

Should we be concerned about ESTA authorization status authorization status?

In some cases, your authorization request may not be successful immediately, and your ESTA authorization status. What does this mean?

First of all, there’s no need to panic: this doesn’t mean you can’t apply for ESTA, just that the application will take a little longer. Screening officers need to carry out additional checks. This may be because you made a typing error or were absent-minded when filling in the online form. The information you provide must correspond in every respect to that contained in your passport. A common omission is the maiden name for married women. This may also be due to a high number of applications at the time you made yours.

The American authorities have announced that this ESTA authorization status can take a maximum of 72 hours. All you have to do is wait for the government’s final response. At the end of this period, your ESTA status status can be changed to approved or ESTA authorization refused.

ESTA status refused: is it irremediable?

The refused ESTA status is unequivocal. There may be many reasons for this refusal. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, you may have made a mistake when filling in the ESTA form. If this is the case, you can reapply as soon as you are aware of the failure of your previous application.

Please do not make the same mistakes again, or you will be refused again. You will, of course, have to pay the fee for each new attempt. If, despite your best efforts, you are still refused, you are not eligible for ESTA.

If your ESTA is refused, what are your alternatives?

Well, the only solution is to apply for a tourist visa. You’ll need to go to the nearest U.S. embassy for an interview with the consular authorities. It’s their job to determine whether you can be granted a visa.

If you don’t understand why you’re not eligible for ESTA, let’s recap the essential conditions for accessing it.

ESTA eligibility requirements

If you are refused authorization, it necessarily means that you do not meet one of the criteria required by the U.S. government.

THE VWP

First of all, make sure that your passport was issued by one of the member countries of the Visa Waiver Program. This list of 41 countries is subject to change according to U.S. homeland security policy.

It should be noted that the Trump administration recently passed an amendment so that people who have visited Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen since 2011 will no longer have access to ESTA authorization, even if they are citizens of one of the countries covered by the VWP or hold dual nationality.

Travel conditions

Another important condition is that your stay in the USA must be a tourist or business trip of no more than 90 days. If you have indicated in the closed questionnaire that you wish to travel to the USA to find work, it is normal that your application will be rejected.

Have a valid passport

Finally, make sure you have a valid passport. This means it must be a biometric or electronic passport. Only these types of passport contain the necessary electronic systems to hold the owner’s fingerprints and retinal scanner.

Finally, your passport must be valid for the entire duration of your stay in the USA.