If you are thinking of doing some work in the US or visiting some business clients over there but have been putting it off because you think it will be hard to get a visa then you may be pleased to hear that applying for an ESTA is relatively easy.

You can find the ESTA form for USA on https://www.estaform.org/ along with guidance and FAQs to help you complete the form.

With concerns regarding the impact of Brexit, many skilled UK residents are looking at opportunities abroad. The best way of working out whether living abroad is for you, is to take a short trip to find out for yourself. The ESTA form for the USA covers you for trips of up to 90 days and is valid for two years from the application date.

Do I need an ESTA?

Before you plan a temporary visit to the US you will be required to apply for an ESTA, which grants you the relevant permission to enter the US. The Visa application process is fairly straightforward, you will just need to visit the website and read through all of the guidance before completing the form. An ESTA covers travellers that are heading to the US for both business and tourism, there are no complicated alternatives depending on whether your last visit was for business and your next one is to see the sights. Your ESTA covers you to do both.

It is recommended that you apply for an ESTA at least 72 hours before you’re planning your trip to the US. This is to ensure that there are no unnecessary delays to your travel plans and if your application is declined you can try and get in touch with the authorities to resolve the issue.

ESTA stands for Electronic System for Travel Authorisation and has been in place since 2010 to apply relevant checks on people entering the US. It is part of the Visa Waiver System and one of the benefits includes being able to use the same visa application for multiple trips as long as the ESTA is still valid.

The ESTA form for USA is made up of a number of questions including personal details as well as your passport details and you must disclose vital information related to criteria such as any criminal convictions.

How long is an ESTA valid for?

If your ESTA application is agreed and processed then your ESTA will stay valid for a period of two years. So if you go to the US a couple of times in that two years, you will not be required to apply for a new ESTA, you can use the same one as long as it still valid for your trips.

There is a three-step process to applying for the ESTA;, the first step is to complete the form, the second step is to check over your details to make sure they are accurate and the third step is to make payment. There are number of different electronic payment options available to you once you have completed the form.

How long does the ESTA application take?

On many occasions the form can be processed within a few minutes, however it is recommended that you do not leave it till the last minute and you prepare adequately by applying at least three days before you plan to fly.

You can apply for the ESTA using the online form we discussed above, or you can go to a third party like the post office or travel agents who will usually offer to process it for you. The quickest way of applying is doing it via the online form and you won’t have to queue up in the post office to get assistance.

As well as providing your passport details you will also be required to provide details about your travel arrangements and particularly the first address that you’ll be stopping at. So the first hotel that you will be staying at, for example will be listed on your application. If you are planning on travelling to different parts of US that is okay as long as you can provide the first address.

If you think that you may have some issues with your application for whatever reason, then it is a good idea to apply as early as possible to have your ESTA processed. For example, if you have travelled to some of the countries listed in the questions or you have a previous criminal conviction then you may encounter difficulty or delays in the processing of your ESTA application.

Now that you know what you need in terms of your travel authorization, you can make your application and start planning your trip to the USA.