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Traditionally, when a citizen of the United Kingdom travels to the United States of America, he or she is required to pass obey the norms of the Visa Waiver Program. This was the old green form, titled 1-94 W, which one has to fill and present when on route to the US. This system has always been in the firing line for its length of shortcomings. One being, many travellers found out their immigration status was not updated and had to wait at the US airport for hours and even asked to deport. This made the VWP has hot media debates both in the US and UK. So, from here on, the new system ESTA came to life.
Stands for the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation, ESTA replaced the old Visa Waiver Program (VWP). This was implemented in the year 2009, in the month of August, so, thereafter anyone, who wish to travel to the US, either by air or sea, is required to obtain the ESTA. This will grant them the access to enter into the territory of the US. However, if you entering the territory of the US via land, you still have to fill the form 1-94 W, in case you don’t have an approved ESTA. This is such short span of time has largely benefited the tourists since now they can easily monitor their immigration status, while they are book flight tickets to the US. On the whole, ESTA saves them from all sorts of hassles, and save your precious money on hotel and flight bookings, if you not granted ESTA to visit the US. You can also say, this system has truly digitised the process of US visa application. But, if you feel lack knowledge about ESTA, then, it is best to talk to visa application consultant for any sort of advice and even filling the ESTA application for you.
One thing to note
It is necessary to know that ESTA doesn’t guarantee entry to the US, as the final decision will be taken by a Custom and Border Protection Officer of the US, they will pay heed on every inch about your US visa application and allow entry if you tick all the boxes of eligibility. However, over the years, it has been that those who have obtained ESTA are successful in gaining clearance from the Custom and Border Protection department. Only, there have been a handful of cases, where the ESTA obtainer denied entry, owing to the fact he or she was a criminal or under conviction.
ESTA visa application
Though, you might think that fill the ESTA form is lengthy and daunting, but, many experts suggest it is hardly a five to ten minutes task and can be completed without any hassles. You have to submit your application over the official ESTA and you track the status of your application over there.
At the end of it all, from the above, you probably got an idea ESTA, for more information talk to your known visa expert.