WHAT’S NEW

Passengers will no longer receive an approved ESTA immediately and it may take up to 72 hours until the application is approved.

Background

All Visa Waiver Program (VWP) travelers are required to obtain a travel authorization via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to traveling to the U.S. under the VWP. ESTA is accessible online at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov for citizens and eligible nationals of VWP countries. The VWP allows visitors from participating countries to travel to the U.S. for business or pleasure for 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. ESTA enhances the security of the VWP and has allowed the U.S. government to expand membership in the program.

Once an eligible passenger completes an application, a response will be generated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Until now, the response has been almost immediate. We have received notification from CBP that starting in early December, the vetting process for applications will change and the response may take some time. CBP is recommending passengers apply for their ESTA at least 72 hours in advance of their flight.

Currently we do see a small number of passengers who attempt to check in without a valid ESTA on file. Their ESTA may not be approved, or they may have not yet applied for one. The passenger is then advised apply for an ESTA and check in is allowed once the ESTA is approved.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The Electronic System for Travel Authorization will return an Application Status within 72 hours. Information will be provided to check the application status if you receive a pending response. You will not receive a separate verification that you have applied for ESTA or a notification about whether or not your application was approved. To retrieve an application and find the disposition, select “Check ESTA Status” from the global navigation menu or home page at. For additional guidance, select “How do I retrieve my application?” from the Help section of the website. The three possible responses to an electronic travel authorization application are:

AUTHORIZATION APPROVED.

Your travel authorization has been approved and you are authorized to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. The system displays confirmation of the application approval and a payment receipt notice showing the amount charged to your credit card. A travel authorization does not guarantee admission to the United States as a Customs and Border Protection officer at a port of entry will have the final determination.