The short answer to this question is yes, you can enter the U.S. right after getting approved for an ESTA. There are, however, several important things to keep in mind regarding this.
In the first place, while in the majority of cases, an ESTA application will be dealt with within 72 hours, you should not assume this will happen every time. If you postpone your ESTA application until the last possible moment and something goes wrong, you will not be allowed to board the plane without an approved ESTA.
Secondly, an approved ESTA only allows you to travel to a United States port-of-entry (generally an airport) and then request permission to enter the U.S. It does not guarantee that you will be allowed to enter that country.
This is because the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials at the port of entry have the final authority to allow or deny admission to the United States. If they find that you, for example, provided incorrect information in your application, they have the right to deny you entry into the country. That is why it is very important to make sure you answer all the questions correctly and truthfully.
Also, take into account that while an approved ESTA is valid for 2 years, that does not mean you can stay in the U.S. for two years without leaving. You are only allowed to stay for a maximum of 90 days at a time – and typically, you will then have to leave the US for at least 90 days. If you try to come back after a few days, you are going to raise suspicions that you might, e.g., be working in the U.S. illegally on your ESTA, and you will most likely not be allowed entry.
How long before my planned trip can I apply for an ESTA?
You can apply for an ESTA the moment you have finalized your travel plans to the United States, even if your departure is still several months away. There is, in fact, no reason why you should wait until you have booked all your accommodations or finalized your travel plans inside the United States. Once you have booked your flight tickets, you can apply for an ESTA and sit back, knowing that this part of your travel arrangements has been completed. There is no reason whatsoever why you should wait for the morning of your departure to do so – and many reasons why applying for an ESTA as early as possible makes more sense.
If I am from a Visa Waiver Country and I urgently need to visit the US, what should I do?
The quickest option remains to apply for an ESTA. If you, however, have an urgent need to travel to the U.S. and are having difficulty obtaining an ESTA, you can contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your home country or in a nearby country for assistance. They may be able to expedite your application or provide other assistance to help you travel to the U.S.
If I have two passports, does it matter if I use one to apply for an ESTA and the other one to enter the United States?
No, you cannot enter the U.S. with a passport that was not used to apply for an ESTA. Each VWP traveler must have an approved ESTA for the specific passport he or she plans to use for traveling to the United States. If you have two passports, you should apply for an ESTA with the passport you intend to use when you travel to the U.S. and use that passport when entering the country.
If, after applying for an ESTA, you acquire a new passport, you will have to submit a new ESTA application for the new passport and pay the relevant fee again. That is why it’s so important to make sure your passport will be valid for the whole period that you plan to visit the United States.
After my ESTA was approved, the information on my passport has changed. What should I do?
If someone’s passport info changes, that person has no other option than to apply for a new ESTA authorization. This will be required for any of the following types of changes:
– You were issued with a new passport (see above)
– You changed your name
– You underwent a gender change
– You have become a citizen of another country
– The underlying circumstances regarding your responses to any of the ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions on the ESTA application form have changed.
In all the above cases you will have to apply for an ESTA again and pay the associated fee (which is currently $21).
Can nationals of VWP countries who are also nationals of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Cuba, Iraq, Iran, Syria, or Sudan apply for an ESTA?
Nationals of VWP countries who are also nationals of these countries are not eligible to travel under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). They can, therefore, not apply for an ESTA. If you are a national of one of these countries and you would like to travel to the U.S., you will have to apply for a visa at a U.S. consulate or embassy in your home country or in a nearby country. It is important to note that visa processing times can be significantly longer than the case for an ESTA, so it is highly recommended that you apply as early as possible.
What are the possible responses I could receive to my ESTA application?
There are 3 possible responses you could receive to an ESTA application:
Authorization approved.
This is the most common response. It means that you qualify to travel to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).
Authorization pending.
In this case the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) needs more time to review your application. You will typically get a final reply within 72 hours.
Travel not authorized.
This means that you are not eligible to travel to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program. It could be due to a number of reasons, such as being a national of a country that is not part of the VWP, having a criminal record, or having visited certain blacklisted countries in the past.
What can I do if my ESTA application is rejected?
If your ESTA application is not approved, your first step should be to go through the application form again and check your answers to make sure you did not make any mistakes. If you find any errors, you can correct them and resubmit your application – but wait at least 24 hours before doing so.
If your application is denied a second time, the only option left to you is to apply for a nonimmigrant visa at your nearest U.S. consulate or embassy. This is one of the main reasons why we recommend that you apply for an ESTA as soon as possible: If you are later forced to apply for a visa the whole process will take much longer than was the case with the ESTA. Remember that you will then also have to attend a personal interview at the U.S. consulate or embassy.