This month we talk about holidays in the USA. There is a huge amount to do in the USA, and it’s no surprise that the USA is one of the most popular tourist destinations for the Brits. To enter certain countries such as the US, Australia and Canada you need to have a valid visa as well as your passport. Visas allow border control to know why people are entering a country, what they plan on doing during their stay so to check if they have the correct visa for this and how long they plan on staying in the country. This is for safety and legal purposes. If you plan on working and earning money during your stay in the US then you would need to have a work visa, however if you just plan on going sightseeing and relaxing then you would only need a travel visa. Also if you’re hoping to transit through the US then you would need to obtain a visa. If you’re hoping to travel to the US via air or sea then you would also need to obtain a visa.

There are hundreds of types of visas; visas are used to grant clearance for non-citizens to temporarily enter a country. Even if though it will have been accepted, a visa can be revoked at any time. A visa tends to be a stamp, travel document or electronic record of authorization. The USA ESTA visa is for international citizens who wish to travel to the US. The ESTA visa is part of the Visa Waiver Program.

The visa has to be printed, ready to be shown once you have entered the country. A newer type of visa is the ESTA visa, you can qualify for this if you have a valid passport, are a citizen of an eligible country or you plan on staying in the US without exceeding the 90 days permitted stay. To apply for this visa all you have to do is fill in a form which is easier to do online and then submit a payment. The visa is generally valid for multiple trips to that country; it’s cheaper if you apply for the visa online. The ESTA visa would be valid for 2 years or until the passport runs out, it depends on which happens first. As long as the visa is valid you won’t need to reapply for it during the two year period. Once applied for the visa could be either accepted or rejected within minutes, however it can take up to 72 hours, if after the 72 hours you’ve not been notified then check your application status.

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