ESTA, an online platform and mobile application, is the mechanism by which verification is done and then direct access is obtained for people who want to travel to the United States and are citizens of countries included in the Visa Waiver Program . According to the authorities, Romanians will be able to apply for this type of authorization from March 31 at the latest, which allows multiple visits to the United States, for stays of up to 90 days for each visit.
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP, a component of the Department of Homeland Security – DHS) created ESTA as an online platform and mobile application as a verification mechanism for the direct access of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) travelers.
Biographical information collected through ESTA applications is checked against appropriate law enforcement databases, and ESTA determines eligibility for VWP travel. The ESTA authorization is an approval to travel to the United States and is not a guarantee of access. State entry is determined by CBP officers upon arrival at a US customs point.
The fee to obtain ESTA is $21.
How long is an ESTA authorization valid?
ESTA approval for VWP travel is valid for two years and allows multiple visits to the United States for stays of up to 90 days per visit. A new ESTA authorization is required if:
- the traveler receives a new passport;
- the traveler’s name has changed;
- the traveler changes sex;
- the nationality of the traveler changes.
The associated fee of $21 will be charged for each new application submitted.
What is the electronic authorization in the ESTA system
The VWP will only allow Romanian citizens and residents to travel to the United States for up to 90 days without a visa. Any other Romanian residents and/or travelers transiting Romania will be eligible for VWP travel only if they have a valid passport issued by one of the other 42 VWP member states.
Like all other VWP members, Romanian travelers will be subject to thorough screening as part of every trip to the United States.
ESTA applications can be submitted at any time before travel. However, the Department of Homeland Security recommends that travelers submit travel authorization applications at least 72 hours before travel. VWP travelers are not required to have specific travel plans to the United States before submitting an ESTA application.
Who can get an ESTA to travel to the United States without a visa?
Most travelers coming to the United States for tourism or business and tourism, for stays of up to 90 days, will be eligible for ESTA.
If, for some reason, the ESTA application is rejected, applicants can still apply for a visa. Citizens and residents of VWP countries can use the program if:
- You have been authorized to travel under ESTA;
- The purpose of their stay in the United States is tourism or certain purposes related to business and tourism, which are allowed under a B-1 or B-2 visa, and the duration of their stay is up to 90 days;
- Present a valid e-passport (ie passports with an embedded chip that contains the information on the personal data page of the e-passport);
- Have met the conditions of previous admission to the United States and have not been declared ineligible for a United States visa;
- If they arrive by air or sea, they arrive on board an authorized carrier and are ticketed for onward transportation to any foreign destination.
Do you still need ESTA if you already have a visa?
Travelers who have a valid US travel visa (B1/B2) can continue to use that visa until its expiration date.
If an applicant is scheduled for a visa interview, the authorities strongly recommend that they attend. A travel visa offers flexibility that the VWP does not have, including the ability to be admitted for a stay of more than 90 days and the ability to apply for a change or extension of status while in the United States.
Since when Romanians can apply for electronic authorization to travel to the United States
DHS is updating the ESTA application and expects to allow citizens and residents of Romania to apply to travel to the US with ESTA no later than March 31, 2025. The US Embassy in Bucharest says who will make a public announcement when the ESTA journey begins. .
