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Post Closed as "Duplicate" by Michael Hampton, RedBaron, jwenting, MadHatter, Be Brave Be Like Ukraine
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toqta
toqta
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An ESTA is a prerequisite to (most) travel to the US if you are a holder a passport from a visa exempt country. The ESTA:

  • Is required in advance of travel (at least 72 hours)
  • Requires a fee
  • Is valid for 2 years

In practice then this just seems to be a multiple entry tourist visa, with the only difference being (according to some sites) that visas are approved electronically instead of by an actual person. Most other visa free schemes I know of literally just require you to show up with the correct type of passport.

Then why is this considered not to be a visa? It just seems to be a justification for the visa-waiver program to not really be visa-free.

An ESTA is a prerequisite to (most) travel to the US if you are a holder a passport from a visa exempt country. The ESTA:

  • Is required in advance of travel (at least 72 hours)
  • Requires a fee
  • Is valid for 2 years

In practice then this just seems to be a multiple entry tourist visa, with the only difference being (according to some sites) that visas are approved electronically instead of by an actual person. Most other visa free schemes I know of literally just require you to show up with the correct type of passport.

Then why is this considered not to be a visa? It just seems to be a justification for the visa-waiver program to not really be visa-free.

An ESTA is a prerequisite to (most) travel to the US if you are a holder a passport from a visa exempt country. The ESTA:

  • Is required in advance of travel (at least 72 hours)
  • Requires a fee
  • Is valid for 2 years

In practice then this just seems to be a multiple entry tourist visa, with the only difference being (according to some sites) that visas are approved electronically instead of by an actual person. Most other visa free schemes I know of literally just require you to show up with the correct type of passport.

Then why is this considered not to be a visa? It just seems to be a justification for the visa-waiver program to not really be visa-free.

Source Link
toqta
toqta
  • 147
  • 4

Is the US ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) a visa?

An ESTA is a prerequisite to (most) travel to the US if you are a holder a passport from a visa exempt country. The ESTA:

  • Is required in advance of travel (at least 72 hours)
  • Requires a fee
  • Is valid for 2 years

In practice then this just seems to be a multiple entry tourist visa, with the only difference being (according to some sites) that visas are approved electronically instead of by an actual person. Most other visa free schemes I know of literally just require you to show up with the correct type of passport.

Then why is this considered not to be a visa? It just seems to be a justification for the visa-waiver program to not really be visa-free.