Dream for many. Objective for many globetrotters. The United States still attracts so many travel enthusiasts. But going to American territory cannot be improvised and such an excursion requires some formalities beforehand. Let’s see what are the essential documents to travel to the United States.
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Let’s take stock together of the documents to prepare in order to be able to return to you in full compliance on United States soil and especially any restrictions still in force since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Reduced restrictions compared to Covid-19
If for several months access to American soil was extremely restrictive (like many other countries which tried as best they could to contain the number of contamination), these rules were relaxed last November.
However, be aware that ESTA USA is still mandatory in addition to the constraints relating to Covid-19. In addition, you must be able to present proof of complete vaccination schedule as well as a negative result following the realization of a antigen test.
What is ESTA USA?
If this is your first time considering a trip to the United States, ESTA USA may be totally unknown to you. ESTA (which means Electronic System for Travel Authorization) is a specific certificate that must be completed and signed before you leave on vacation.
It is required for stays of less than 90 days and concerns entry into the territory by plane or boat. This form is mandatory for adults and children and costs $14. Its validity is limited to two years (you can therefore travel to the United States several times during this period of time without repeating this procedure) and you must complete this form no more than 72 hours before your departure. But the sooner the better!
It is a sort of authorization to enter the United States and is the equivalent of the famous “green leaf”. The entire procedure is done online: you must provide all the information requested, answer the questions and send the supporting documents. The processing and issuance of the authorization takes an average of 72 hours.
Other entry formalities
In addition to ESTA and proof of vaccinationyou must have a passport biometric. Previously, it was also necessary to have a visa but this is no longer the case thanks to an Exemption Program for citizens of most European countries. Provided you have a valid passport.
If you plan to stay more than 90 days in the United States, then the visa application procedure is necessary. Several types of visa exist depending on the nature of your visit: tourism, business…
In addition to preparing for your expedition and future visits, your trip to the United States requires special attention to gather all the required documents. Ill-informed or ill-prepared, some tourists could face great difficulties in enjoying their American dream…
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