Mind Gem
Australia has a visa waiver agreement with America and thus passport-holders can travel easily. However, before you set off for you journey, you must obtain approval online at the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) website. You should know whether you are eligible to travel to the US before you board a plane.
At the ESTA website, you will fill a form that will require you to indicate your basic biographic, eligibility and travel information before you depart. There are no charges for completing the application and within a few minutes, you will receive authorization to travel.
It is important to complete the form early, preferably when you are beginning your travel plans. Avoid filling it in the last minute as delays can occur and your holiday may be messed up. If you do not have a valid ESTA, you may experience delayed processing, denied boarding or denied entry to America.
Once you have received an ESTA and have been cleared to travel, it will remain valid for up to 2 years and you can use it anytime you will be travelling to US. It is important to print your ESTA reference number and have it with you when you are at airports or other points of entry in the United States.
If you hold a valid travel visa to the US, you do not have to fill the ESTA. Before you travel, make sure you have other documents you may require during your holiday. These include an international driver’s license if you will be driving, required medical certificates among others.
It is important to make your travel visa arrangements early enough to avoid last minute hassles or disappointments. The online ESTA application process is simple and within minutes, you will know whether you are eligible to travel to the United States.
