Visa exemption for the USA: everything you need to know about the visa exemption

Israel joined about 40 countries whose citizens are not required to present an entry visa. However, to enter the United States, Israelis must fill out the ESTA form. Pay attention! Only those who have a biometric passport for 10 years can submit the ESTA form. The “old” visa issued by the embassy will still be valid and it will be possible to issue such a visa in the future as well, at the same time as ESTA. The “old” visa has several advantages over the one issued with ESTA.

What is an ESTA permit?

ESTA approval is an electronic system for travel approval, and it is required to be completed by citizens of countries included in the visa exemption program. The form must be filled out onlineon the United States Border Patrol website. When filling out the form, passengers are asked to attach personal details, such as names as they appear in passports, information about the visit to the United States, answers to questions related to security, medical condition, and more.

How long does it take to complete the ESTA application on average?

According to CBP, it takes applicants an average of 23 minutes to complete the online form.

How much does it cost to complete an ESTA application?

As of today, the United States requires travelers who submit the ESTA form to pay $40 (about NIS 125, according to the representative rate at the time of writing these lines). This is a non-refundable fee if the application is rejected for any reason.

What is needed to submit an ESTA application?

• Valid electronic passport (ePassport). Also applies to babies and children.
• Purpose of the trip: tourism or business trip.
• Travel duration: maximum 90 days.
• Valid credit card (MasterCard, VISA, American Express, JCB, Diners Club) or PayPal.
• Contact details.
• If necessary: ​​information about the last job.
• Since March 1, 2011, ESTA has not been granted to those who entered or stayed in Iraq, Sudan, Iran, Syria, Libya, Somalia or Yemen.

Where do you submit the ESTA application?

According to the CBP, it is not advisable to submit the request through other sites that assist the traveler. It can work, but also cost a lot more money. Therefore, check the application on the right site on the official ESTA pages ending in gov.

How long does it take to process an ESTA application?

The ESTA travel authorization can be submitted up to 72 hours before departure at the latest. During this period, applications must be processed. However, it usually only takes a few minutes for an ESTA application to be approved. ESTA holders should check their ESTA status on the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website prior to travel.

How long is the ESTA approval valid for?

The validity of the form is up to two years from the date of its issue or until the end of the validity of the passport, whichever comes first. After one of them ends, you have to take out the form again. Pay attention! If your passport has expired and the ESTA is still valid, you still need to reissue it (and pay $21 again), because the form needs to be associated with the new passport number you will issue.

The permit grants its holder three consecutive months of visiting the United States. That is, compared to the visa that was granted up to now for six months, residents with the electronic permit will be able to stay in the United States for three months, and will be forced to leave the country. Those who nevertheless want to stay in the United States for a longer time, will be forced to leave for one of the neighboring countries, stamp their passport and return to the United States for another three months.

Is it possible to extend the existing ESTA approval?

An existing permit cannot be extended, and after the end of the two years the ESTA application must be submitted again in the country of origin and paid again.

What can be done if the ESTA application is rejected?

Depends on why it happened. If you clicked incorrectly on question 1 in the questionnaire (subject: health condition), you can simply wait 24 hours and then submit a new application. On the other hand, if you answered “yes” to question 8, which deals with a criminal past, you can call the agency’s new communication center in the US and get help. In all other cases, Israelis can still apply for a normal visit visa as it has been until now, a B2 tourist visa.

What are the common mistakes in filling out the ESTA form?

One of the main problems is that the application process is interrupted in the middle and then the process cannot be completed to the end. In such a case, travelers cannot submit a new application because it is already in progress And it will stay that way for 30 days. Therefore, it is important to check why the process was interrupted:

1. At each stage of the process you should save the form In order not to start filling it from the beginning in case the system closes. You can enter the form at any stage and as already mentioned the application will be open and changes can be made to it for about a month.

2. The minimum requirement for the computer configuration to submit an ESTA application is A supported web browser With 128-bit encryption and can accept cookies, and has JavaScript enabled.

3. If your computer meets the minimum configuration requirements and you still encounter technical problems, it could be Internet browser or firewall problem of the computer. Check your internet security settings – if they are set too high, they may be blocking access to the ESTA website. If that doesn’t work, try applying from a different browser/computer. Finally, some ISPs may be blocked due to spam concerns, and you may need to contact your ISP for assistance.

4. If the system I do not receive the passport numbertry to enter it without spaces between the numbers.

5. If the system I don’t get the phone numbertry entering it again, but do not use any brackets such as ( ) or dashes – or spaces between the numbers.

6. Always important Enter data exactly as it appears in the passportwithout translating or omitting letters or symbols.

7. If the system does not allow you to go to the next page, it is possible thatThe system found an error in a required field (such as an illegal character, skipping a field, etc.) You will not be allowed to continue until these errors are corrected. If a mandatory field (marked in red) is not filled in correctly, the system will return you to the current page.

8. If your computer freezes and does not allow you to continue, most likely the problem is with the browser or the capacity of the computer and you may need to use a different computer (the same request number must be used to continue the process and not start from the beginning).

9. If you receive an error message that says “There is already an application with the passport number This is in the system” This is because you have applied before and have a valid application. If some of the biographical information is incorrect in the existing application, the application is invalid, and you must click “Continue” to proceed with the new application. You will be required to pay the new application fee.

Is it a problem that the dates or the photo in my passport are old?

not necessarily. In the case of photos of older children, it is enough that the passport is still valid and undamaged and that all the information is still correct. After a name change due to marriage or divorce, CBP recommends applying for a new passport and then submitting a new ESTA application.

Can children also take out an ESTA form and get a visa to enter the country?

When applying for the ESTA form it does not matter if your passport is for five years or ten years, as long as it is biometric. i.e, There is no obstacle for children with a biometric passport to apply for a visa. It is important to clarify – whoever submits the request for the children must be an adult.

After arriving in the United States, how do you present the certificate?

Although in principle the confirmation can be presented on the mobile phone, it is recommended to print it and present it together with the Israeli passport to the immigration officers in the USA. In fact, already in advance the airline is required to make sure that the form in your hand is correct already at the check-in stage.

Is the “old” US visa still relevant?

definitely! Those who have a valid visa in their passport, which was issued through the US embassy in Israel, will still be able to use it. In addition, it will still be possible to make appointments to issue a visa at the embassy or go to an appointment that has already been scheduled. Although it will cost more money and require more bureaucracy and physical arrival at the embassy, its validity will be longer (ten years versus two years) and allow a longer stay each time (six months versus three months). If you have a future visa appointment and you have already booked You have paid for it, it is recommended not to cancel if you have a valid visa, it is recommended not to issue an ESTA form.