What is the Duration of Stay in the USA with ESTA
The ESTA is administered by the government of the USA. The ESTA eases the US travel for the citizens of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries. ESTA is a web-based approval administered by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), to verify and determine the eligibility of the nationals of VWP citizens travelling to the USA. All the nationals of VWP countries should apply and get the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), a pre-travel authorization approval to secure their travel permit for travelling to the US.
ESTA entitles the VWP travellers to a short stay in the US without a visa. Travelling to the US using ESTA is approved only for transit purposes or business and tourism trips.
Duration of Stay of ESTA
The ESTA remains valid for two years and the travellers can stay up to 90 continuous days per trip in the US. The validity of the ESTA expires along with the traveller’s passport. The ESTA is directly linked to the traveller’s passport. If the traveller’s passport expires sooner, within the ESTA validity of 2 years, then the ESTA expires at the same date as that of the expiry date of the passport.
The validity of ESTA is completely different from the duration of stay in the United States. The validity denotes the period during which the ESTA will remain active. The ESTA of Visa Waiver Travellers will remain active for two years, this does not mean that travellers can stay up to two years in the USA using the ESTA. The duration of the stay denotes the number of days travellers are allowed to stay in the USA using the ESTA. ESTA entitles the VWP travellers to a stay of up to 90 days for each trip, regardless of their visit.
The ESTA can be used only to enter and exit the USA. Using the ESTA travellers can explore all the US states during the stay. Entering the surrounding countries such as Canada, requires a particular travel authorization or valid visa from the respective country.
Does the ESTA Allow Multiple Entries to the United States of America?
Nationals of VWP countries can enter and exit the USA multiple times using the ESTA. There are no entry limits for travellers using the ESTA. As long as the ESTA is valid, travellers can enter the US multiple times, but the purpose of the trip should only be business, transit or tourism. This facility turns out as a major advantage for travellers to explore the rich culture and beauty of the nation or to unlock new business opportunities in the US. Overstaying mandates prior approval and proper authorization, if not it can result in severe consequences, such as penalties and being banned from entering the US.
Travellers can explore the other US visa types if looking for a long halt or other relevant visa for employment and academic purposes. To avoid overstaying travellers are advised to book their return tickets in advance. Travellers can re-apply for ESTA after the expiry of the current ESTA.
How to Know When the ESTA Expires?
The expiry of ESTA will be notified to the travellers through the email ID provided at the time of applying for ESTA. The email contains the expiry date of the ESTA, making it easy for the travellers, it also comes with the instructions that should be followed for reapplying. The validity period of ESTA starts from its issuance date, travellers can use their application number, name, date of birth and passport number to check the expiry date of ESTA. If the ESTA expires travellers should apply and obtain a new ESTA before entering the borders of the United States of America. Travellers can also retrieve their ESTA application using the website. It requires basic details such as the name, passport details and date of birth.
Time Duration to Re-enter the United States of America Using ESTA
There are no rules and limits set on the time duration to re-enter the United States of America using ESTA. However, for a hassle-free re-entrance travellers are advised to stay up to five to six weeks outside the nation, but it is good to follow the same stay duration of their stay in the United States or longer. Travellers who have plans to re-enter the US are advised not to utilize their 90 days stay and exit the country within 60-80 days. However, travellers should have the proper documents and itinerary to answer the questions of the customs officer. They have the authority to deny travellers re-entry into the United States.
Proper documents such as, an accommodation and finance that cover the entire stay, travel itinerary and booked return tickets confirming the traveller’s intention to exit the United States will ensure a hassle-free re-entry into the nation. Have clear intentions, be honest and transparent about the travel plans.
Is it Possible to Extend the Stay Duration or Validity of ESTA?
Under any circumstances, travellers cannot extend their stay in United States. Extending the stay during validity of ESTA is an impossible task because it is the standard rule. So, travellers are advised to be mindful about their stay duration which is 90 days per trip and validity date of their ESTA. However, due to emergency situations travellers can get some additional time if their Satisfactory Departure request gets approved. To apply for Satisfactory Departure travellers should state their emergency situation for not being able to depart from the United States of America.
It is mandatory to submit the Satisfactory Departure request prior to the expiry date of ESTA. Upon approval travellers will get an additional 30 days to stay in the US. Travellers are advised to leave the nation with the additional 30 days, to avoid further consequences.
ESTA is a hassle-free way for citizens of VWP countries to undertake their dream trip to explore the Disneyland Park ride or to learn and invest in business opportunities. The ESTA facilitates multiple visits within the validity period of two years, thus, eliminating the need to apply for ESTA for each trip. Be informed about the current travel and related updates, check the ESTA validity before making plans. To ensure a smooth multiple entry into the United States of America using ESTA, avoid overstaying and utilizing the full stay duration.
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