Patient answers to common questions

ESTA stands for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization. It is a digital travel authorisation administered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection for eligible travellers from Visa Waiver Program countries. It is not a visa — it is a separate authorisation system specifically for short visits to the United States, typically up to 90 days.

No. An ESTA and a U.S. visa are two different things. An ESTA is a faster, electronic authorisation available only to citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries for short visits. A U.S. visa is a more involved process administered by U.S. embassies and consulates and is required for longer stays, study, work, or for citizens of countries not in the Visa Waiver Program.

An approved ESTA is generally valid for two years from the date of authorisation, or until your passport expires — whichever comes first. During this period, you may use it for multiple short visits without reapplying, provided your circumstances remain unchanged.

An approved ESTA authorises you to board a flight to the United States, but the final decision on admission is always made by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer at the port of entry. Most travellers with a valid ESTA are admitted without difficulty, but it is important to understand that the ESTA itself is travel authorisation, not an entry guarantee.

No. We are a private, third-party assistance service. We are not affiliated with the U.S. Government or U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Our role is to provide a careful, human-reviewed preparation service for travellers who would prefer a second pair of eyes on their vital details before anything is submitted.

You are absolutely free to apply directly on the official CBP website at the lower government fee. Many travellers — particularly families, older travellers, and first-time applicants — choose our service for the patient hand-holding experience and the human review that helps prevent the small oversights that lead to delays. The choice is entirely yours.

Your file is reviewed by senior compliance reviewers on our team — real people with years of experience preparing ESTA details. We never rely on automation alone. Every file passes through at least two sets of human eyes before transmission.

No third party can guarantee an authorisation outcome — and any service that claims otherwise should be approached with caution. The authorisation decision rests entirely with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. What we can promise is that your details will be carefully reviewed by a human expert before submission, helping to prevent the most common oversights that lead to delays.

Your vital details travel through a 256-bit encrypted portal. Look for the green lock symbol in your browser's address bar. We treat your information with the same care a bank or insurance provider would apply, and we never share it beyond what is required for the authorised submission.

We retain only what is necessary to maintain your file and assist you with future modifications, and only for the period required by applicable regulations. Your passport number is encrypted at rest and accessible only to authorised members of our compliance team.

We do not sell your data, ever. The only third party with whom your information is shared is U.S. Customs and Border Protection, as part of the authorised ESTA submission process. Anything else would require your explicit consent.

Please never email full passport scans or full passport numbers. If we need any sensitive data from you after your initial submission, we will request it through our encrypted portal — not by email. This is one of the simplest safety habits there is.

That is precisely what our service exists to catch. Our reviewers audit every file character by character before submission. If we identify an oversight, we contact you gently by email to confirm the correct value before anything is sent. You are not on your own with this.

Please email our support team with your reference number as soon as you notice. Some details — like your contact information or travel dates — can typically be modified. Identity details such as name, date of birth, and passport number are tied to the authorisation and usually require a fresh application. Our team will gently walk you through what is possible for your situation.

If U.S. Customs and Border Protection denies an ESTA authorisation, you may still be able to travel by applying for a traditional U.S. visa through your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Our team will gladly explain the reason for denial in plain language and help you understand your next steps. A denial is not, in itself, a basis for service-fee refund as our review service has been fully delivered.

Most decisions are issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection within 72 hours of submission, with some files taking up to a week. We strongly recommend beginning your guided application at least seven days before your travel date for genuine peace of mind.

Yes. Our service can be used from any internet-connected device, anywhere in the world. We send all communications by email, so as long as you have access to your inbox you can complete your application from home, while travelling, or anywhere else that suits you.

It is not strictly required, as the authorisation is electronically linked to your passport. However, many cautious travellers prefer to carry a printed copy along with their travel documents for peace of mind. We provide a clean PDF confirmation for this purpose.