What kind of answers can I get when I fill the ESTA form?
When requesting an ESTA, the Department of Homeland Security can release three types of responses:
- – Authorization Approved: in this case you are allowed to travel to the USA within the program travel without visa. However, you should remember that the ESTA or a valid visa give the possibility to travel to the United States, but once you arrive at the airport or at the expected entry port, all travellers will have to verify their documents to the Customs and Border Protection, the custom and protection bureau of American borders. Only they can decide if you can enter the USA.
This occurrence is the most common and it concerns the 99% of cases.
- – Authorization pending: in this case the DHS (authority of immigration USA) is currently reviewing the data of the ESTA but has not yet taken a decision. Cases like this can happen and do not mean anything negative. The automated system which is not able to manage is simply not able to take care all of the requests immediately, and it takes a bit of time to review the request.
- – Travel not authorized: The system has not authorized your participation in the Visa Waiver Program. This response prevents the use of ESTA, but it does not deny the travel to the United States. You can, in fact, request a new Visa by contacting the American Embassy or Consulate.
Example: Victoria
Victoria lives in Bologna and the United States are among her favorite travel destinations.
Last month she planned a travel to the East Cost to visit the south of Florida.
5 days before leaving, while connecting to www.usa-esta.us she applied for an Esta authorization for her and her boyfriend.
Her boyfriend’s document arrived at her email address shortly after, while her authorization did not.
After contacting our customer service, Victoria was informed that her request was in pending status, and that in 72 hours at most she would have obtained a response on the authorization outcome. The system in fact does not provide specific reasons about the delay which can occur during the approval of the travel authorization.
In fact, it is possible that Victoria’s name is similar to another traveler not welcomed in the US, or that Victoria committed a series of violations of the American immigration rules in the past?
It could also possible the address in the U.S. where Victoria is going to go is located in proximity of a sensible area for the American national security (such as military bases, governmental bases, and so on) for which the Immigration authorities will pay close attention to the traveler information.
Anyway, after 16 hours of waiting, Valeria received her approved travel authorization, much earlier than her departure.
As a guideline, we recommend to pay close attention when filling the online form. Also, pay attention to the confirmation page, which offers you an opportunity to double check.
Get your ESTA Visa in 3 easy steps!
1. Complete the application form in full.
2. Confirm personal and payment information.
3. Receive a confirmation email from us shortly.