A traveler may not qualify for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) for a variety of reasons. Among others, the list includes the following:
Your country is not a member of the VWP (Visa Waiver Program)
This is the primary requirement for successfully applying for an ESTA. In order to be successful with his or her application, a traveler must have a passport from one of the 41 countries that are members of the Visa Waiver Program. If your country isn’t on the list, your ESTA application will not be successful.
You do not have a valid passport
The ESTA program is linked to a valid passport number, and if your passport is not capable of containing the owner’s fingerprint, facial, and retinal recognition information, your ESTA application will also be denied.
You provided a “Yes” answer to any of the Eligibility Questions on the application form
Providing a “YES” answer to any of the eligibility questions on the ESTA application form will almost certainly lead to the application being rejected. These questions are designed to identify travelers who may pose a threat to the U.S. and cover matters such as past medical histories, arrest histories, and criminal records.
We are not in any way suggesting that readers should lie in response to one or more of the questions – but if you do, e.g., suffer from a health condition such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, or leprosy, or you have a criminal record for a serious crime like murder or assault, you may be better off by simply applying for a visa instead of an ESTA from the start.
The U.S. government attaches great value to preventing entry to visitors with such backgrounds. This means that just about any criminal record can make a traveler ineligible for an ESTA. The ESTA application form, for example, includes questions about being arrested or convicted of crimes that cause serious damage to someone else’s person or his or her property or serious harm to a government authority.
The nature of the crime, the age of the offender at the time, and the date the incident took place are all important factors in determining your eligibility for successfully applying for an ESTA. In this regard, it is important to be aware that even minor offenses or convictions that occurred a long time ago can potentially impact your ESTA eligibility. This is why it is crucial to apply for an ESTA as long as you can before your planned visit to the United States. If anything goes wrong with the application, you will still have sufficient time to make alternative arrangements.
[A] A previous ESTA denial or overstay
If you have been denied a visa or entry into the United States in the past, or you have overstayed during a previous Visa Waiver visit, you may not qualify for an ESTA either.
[B] Unlawful residence or employment
Among other reasons, the United States government created the ESTA program to prevent entry by travelers who plan to stay in the country for improper reasons, such as unlawful residence or employment. If you were in the past found guilty of e.g. overstaying your visa to work in the United States without a work permit, you might have serious problems with getting an ESTA.
[C] You traveled to a country deemed a State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST)
If you have traveled to specific countries such as Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen on or after a specific date, you can be ineligible for an ESTA.
[D] You have dual citizenship of a SST
Even if you are currently a citizen of one of the 41 Visa Waiver Countries that qualify for ESTA but also have dual citizenship in one of the eight nations listed above, you are not going to qualify for the ESTA program.
[E] There are errors on your ESTA application
Any mistakes in the application, such as providing incorrect or fraudulent information in reply to any of the questions, can lead to your ESTA application being rejected.
Finding out the reason for an ESTA denial
If their ESTA application has been unsuccessful, a traveler might be able to find out the reason by visiting the official ESTA website for more information. There is also a more comprehensive selection of frequently asked questions about this topic.
At this stage, readers will probably realize why it is so important to carefully review the eligibility requirements and ensure that all information provided in the ESTA application is accurate and truthful. To put it bluntly, it is the only way to avoid any potential issues with your travel authorization.
If my ESTA application was unsuccessful because of what I believe to be a minor issue, can I apply again?
If you inadvertently made a small mistake in your ESTA application and you only realize that when the authorities reject the application, you have the option of applying to the Travel Redress Inquiry Program (TRIP). This service, which is under the control of the United States Department of Homeland Security, is the only one able to provide you with the exact reasons for the refusal. If you are, for example, informed that you have made a typing error or entered incorrect information that you are able to correct, you may submit a new ESTA application.
Please note, however, that if you e.g. have a rather serious criminal record and you simply attempt to hide the fact in your second application, the authorities are very likely to pick up that fact and your application will be rejected again. You should also be aware that if you apply for an ESTA a second time, you will have to pay the relevant fee again. This currently amounts to $21.
What should I do if I get to the airport and am informed that my previously approved ESTA has been canceled?
If you find out at the last moment that your ESTA has been revoked, it is obviously a serious issue that has to be addressed immediately because you will not be allowed to board your flight to the United States.
Here are the steps you should take if this happens:
Seek clarification
If your ESTA is revoked at the airport, you should try to get immediate clarification from the authorities at the airport regarding the reason for this. Understanding the specific reason for the revocation is extremely important in determining the next steps you should take.
If that doesn’t work, and you believe that the revocation of our ESTA was due to a misunderstanding or incorrect information, you can consider applying to the Travel Redress Inquiry Program (TRIP) to seek clarification and resolution.
Review and correct mistakes.
If the revocation of your ESTA was indeed because of a small error or errors in the application, you can correct these and submit another application. However, it’s important to note that ESTA won’t allow you to re-apply if you want to correct one or more of the eligibility questions. In that situation, you will have to get a visa (see below).
Consider applying for a visa instead
. If your ESTA has been revoked, your only other option is typically to apply for a visa at the nearest American consulate or embassy.
This will of course take much longer than an ESTA application because you will have to provide additional documentation and attend a personal visa interview. You will, therefore, have no other option than to change your travel plans and reschedule your flights.