ESTA Application For The United States
Traveling is a necessary part of many peoples lives. Everything from local travel within the bounds of a person’s own region to international travel. People travel for all manner of reasons including but not limited to, vacations, school, business, and to visit family. Some people also travel for the purpose of deciding on a new place to move, scouting out work opportunities, and to search for adventure. In other words, there is an endless list of reasons to travel both near and far. One common destination for those who participate in international travel is the United States of America. In this article, you will find information on how to obtain the appropriate documents you will need to travel as well as places to see, great locations, and much more.
First up, you will need an e-passport. This is just like any other passport except it contains a chip that has all of the person’s important information such as name and date of birth. To travel into the United States, you need to make sure that the chip also contains a photograph of the passport holder. Not all destinations require a photo to be on the chip; however, the United States of America does require it. If you have obtained your passport within the last decade, it is most likely an e-passport, but if it was issued in 2006 or before, it most likely is not.
Once you have an e-passport, the next step is to fill out an ESTA form. ESTA stands for Electronic System for Travel Authorization. You will not be able to travel without filling out this form unless you already have a visa. If you have applied for a visa, but have not heard back yet, hold off on filling out an ESTA until you know whether or not your visa has been approved. Like most things in this day and time, filling out one of these forms is done entirely online. that is why it is called an electronic system. If you search for “ESTA form” on your favorite browser, you will be able to easily find the link to the form. It is not a difficult or long process. After completing the form, which is fairly simple in and of itself, applicants will need to wait 72 hours to check for updates. This is all done through the website where you first apply.
If for some reason, your application is denied, you will be taken to an information page so you can try to determine why it was denied. Even if your ESTA is denied, you still have the option of applying for a visa. On the other hand, if your application is approved, you now have travel authorization. If this is the case, you now need to begin compiling all of the paperwork you will need. You will need your e-passport, an authorization document, papers to allow you to return to your own country, and identification. Once you have all of this gathered, congratulations, you are ready to travel to the United States of America! Keep in mind that officials at the border will have the final say as to whether or not you may enter the country, but rest assured that so long as you have all of your paperwork in order and are not carrying a banned substance, you should not have any problems.
Not that you are in the United States, you have a lot more planning to do. If you are traveling for official business reasons, you probably will not have time to site see and your accommodations are most likely prearranged. However, if you are traveling for pleasure there are a few places you should make sure are on the top of your “must see” list! This includes Hollywood, the Grand Canyon, the Titanic Museum, and New York City. If you are a history buff, there are forts, plantations, burial grounds, and many other historical sites all over the country. Most areas have at least a small historical site, while larger (and older) areas have many. If books are your thing, NewYork has one of the worlds largest libraries and there are smaller libraries and bookshops in almost every region. If you enjoy fishing, West Virginia has a multitude of lakes, rivers, and streams that are stocked on a regular basis.
You will find accommodations for every conceivable price range, everything from hostels to five-star luxury hotels. More rural areas tend to not cater to the nicer hotels due to low need, but no matter what area you are heading to, there will be suitable accommodations. Likewise, there are restaurants for every taste. Small locally owned places, large chains, and everything in between. You will also be able to find a multitude of ethnic food choices. Many owned and operated by families that are deeply immersed in the culture they are representing. Each area has their own selection and is famous for various cuisines. You can find one place that specializes in hotdogs next to a place that serves the finest Italian cuisine. In short, finding food that interests you should not be an issue.
If you enjoy observing wildlife, there are many options available. If you enjoy zoos and aquariums that are many to choose from, but some of the most well known for their amazing exhibits and their great treatment of the animals is the Cincinnati Zoo and the Georgia Aquarium. If you prefer preserves and nature trails, there is an abundance of those scattered all around the country. If hiking and camping is what you are interested in, look to father than the Appalachian Trail. This trail is known for its beauty and immersive nature experience. You have the option of hiking a portion of the trail or the entire thing. Either way, you are in for an amazing experience.
Now you have all of the information that you will need to get you started on your journey to the United States of America. Hopefully, this information will make the process a bit easier for you. Have a safe and enjoyable trip!
