Getting ESTA to enter U.S. becomes more expensive
Traveling to the United States, starting in the next few days, will cost a few dollars more. And it has nothing to do with the euro/dollar exchange rate, [...]
United States of America
Traveling to the United States, starting in the next few days, will cost a few dollars more. And it has nothing to do with the euro/dollar exchange rate; the single currency is at its lowest since 2002. Going to America will cost twice as much as in the summer of 2008 when one euro was worth more than 1.55$, in addition, there will also be a price hike in ESTA, the electronic visa required to board to the United States of America.
What is ESTA
In this article:
As of September 2010, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security requires payment of 14$ for ESTA issuance. Travelers from countries eligible for the Visa Waiver Program are required to obtain ESTA before boarding.
ESTA stands for Electronic System for Travel Authorization and is used to determine a foreign national's eligibility to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The VWP was introduced in 2006 to enable citizens from 38 countries around the world to gain easier access to travel to the United States for business or pleasure without going through the lengthy process of applying for an appropriate visa.
Increased costs
As of this week, the "tax," viz. the 14$ required, will increase by 50% to 21$ per traveler. The permit is valid for two years from the date of issue and must be issued for all passengers of all ages, otherwise boarding will be denied at check-in.
The net is chock-full of fake sites trying to "cheat" the traveler Acting as intermediaries for obtaining ESTA. Not only do they charge a fee for the service, but they risk providing sensitive information such as passport details, airline tickets, and more to an entity that could use them for other purposes as well. There is only one site, and that is the official government site, to apply for an ESTA, so be careful not to end up on the wrong one.
To go to the U.S. one must then incur a significant cost, not mandatory but strongly recommended, namely that of medical and accident insurance. To that effect, Own a credit card that, among many benefits, covers this expense (for a family it can mean even more than 500€), it is a great way to save money.
How to fill out the application
It is not complicated at all. It is possible to make a single application for a group of people or an individual one. In any case, the permit will be individual and usable individually and with other fellow travelers.
The required travel information covers destination, expected length of stay, address in the U.S., passport details, etc. Once the questions are completed, you will need to pay the fee, by credit card or paypal, and submit. On trips after the first one, you can update the destination and/or address where you will stay, at least the first hotel. Important to remember that if it expires/changes passport, a new permit must be obtained.
The granting of ESTA can take anywhere from a couple of hours to three days, since it lasts for 24 months my advice is to have it active at all times, so you can take even a last minute ticket without having to worry about applying for authorization on a tight deadline.
