United States Online Visa

The US ESTA visa waiver is a mandatory requirement for all travelers from visa-exempt nationalities to visit the United States of America, Puerto Rico, or the US Virgin Islands for stays of up to 90 days.

ESTA stands for Electronic System for Travel Authorization. This online application system was introduced by the US government in 2009 to facilitate the process of applying for a US visa waiver for purposes of tourism, business, or to transit through the country to another destination.

ESTA for the United States is available to visitors of 39 nationalities in the US visa waiver program. Passengers simply have to complete a quick online form to receive an approved ESTA linked to the traveler’s passport. This only takes a few minutes to complete.

An approved ESTA is a multiple–entry travel authorization. This means the holder can travel to the United States multiple times on commercial flights or cruises during its period of validity (2 years from the date of issue, or until the current passport expires). It is also important that the approved ESTA application has up-to-date personal information.

Holders of an ESTA may stay in the USA for up to 90 days with each approved entry to the country.

ESTA is not required if entering the US by land, or by local ferries from Canada. It is mandatory for all passengers under the visa waiver program arriving by air or by cruise ship.

Visa-exempt individuals who wish to travel to the USA for longer than 3 consecutive months at a time, or for purposes other than business or tourism, will be required to apply for one of the different types of visa for the United States.

This may be a work visa, student visa, or another visa type depending on the purpose of the stay. All of these US visa options must be applied for by making an appointment at a US embassy, consulate, or other US diplomatic government office.

Find below a list of all the nationalities required to apply for a US ESTA.

In November 2016, the US government introduced the Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS), an electronic travel authorization program for Chinese citizens which determines who may enter the country.

However, People’s Republic of China passport holders also need a visa for the United States in addition to obtaining an EVUS authorization.

Chinese passport holders already in possession of one of the valid 10-year US visa types are eligible to enroll for EVUS: B1 (temporary business visitor), B2 (temporary leisure visitor) or the multi-purpose B1/B2 (temporary business and leisure visitor).

To register for EVUS, Chinese nationals are required to fill in a simple online application. To complete the form, applicants must supply basic personal and passport information, and answer a few questions related to security.

Once the EVUS enrollment is complete, the applicant receives an approved US EVUS authorization electronically linked to their passport.

An approved EVUS registration is valid for 2 years from the date of issue and is a multiple entry travel authorization, which means the holder can enter the United States various times during its validity.

Although the majority of EVUS enrollments are quickly processed within a few minutes, applicants are advised to register online well in advance of the intended date of arrival in the US, as processing may take up to 24 hours in some cases.

It is important to note that all Chinese visitors to the United States with a valid 10-year B1, B2, or B1/B2 visa must have a valid approved EVUS or they will not be able to obtain a boarding pass or cross a US land border.

It is necessary to apply for and obtain an approved visa for the USA from an embassy or consulate before a Chinese citizen can complete the EVUS application. However, Chinese travelers with a US visa other than the B-class type do not need to apply for EVUS.