ESTA Resources

The Global Entry Program has been created by the CBP (the US Customs and Border Protection and permits pre-approved travelers expedited clearance on their arrival in the USA. Members of the program enter the USA via automated kiosks at specified airports. At the airport, members of the Global Entry program proceed to the automatic kiosks, where they must present a machine-readable…

This article provides information to readers on what NEXUS is, its many benefits, and how to apply for the program. NEXUS can be used by visitors arriving in the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. An application for an ESTA or U.S. visa can be submitted before or after applying for NEXUS as the processes are independent from one another. Using…

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has proposed a number of changes to enhancing the security screening procedures of the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which is used for issuing travel authorizations for eligible visitors of the Visa Waiver Program. How does CBP typically propose changes for the ESTA? Typically,…

On April 7th 2022, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) revised the requirements for Visa Waiver Program (VWP) travelers entering the United States by land. When will ESTA be required for Visa Waiver Program travelers entering by land? Starting October 1st 2022, all travelers entering the United States by air, sea and now land, will need…

The U.S. Department of State recently announced that all American consulates have now been authorized to forgo the in-person interviews that were normally required, provided the employment visa applicant meets a number of specific criteria. The amended rule applies to applications for temporary employment visas in the following categories: Q, P, O, L, H-4, H-3, and H-1. The revised regulations…

On a recent visit to Washington D.C., Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett was optimistic his country may soon me added to the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The Israeli Prime Minister was meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken regarding Israel’s admission into the program. The two leaders were in agreement over the intent to admin Israel into the program. What…

Since the new American President arrived in the White House a year ago, he and his team have taken several steps to undo the immigration-related restrictions introduced by his predecessor. The list includes plans to admit more refugees, not applying the notorious 'public charge' system that prevents immigrants who could possibly use public benefits such as Medicaid from getting green cards,…

Readers who intend to fly to the United State in the near future must prepare themselves for stricter testing requirements. This comes after the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) announced earlier that the testing window for all global air travelers will be shortened from three days to one day. For the past month, only travelers who have not been vaccinated had to be tested…

After a travel ban that lasted more than 18 months, the United States has opened its borders for fully vaccinated travelers from Mexico, Canada, the EU, South Africa, Iran, China, India, and Brazil. The only requirements are that they have to show proof of vaccination and a negative Covid-19 test. The new system came into operation on Monday, November 8 2021. This follows an announcement…

The United States has finally, after nearly 18 months, decided to remove its travel ban and ease restrictions on arrivals from the EU and the UK. In terms of the revised rules, travelers from the UK who are fully vaccinated will now once again be able to travel to the US for leisure and/or business purposes. This comes after the United Kingdom…