The
US visa system has been in place as far back as 1924 for any
non-citizen to visit the US. Since then, the system has developed to help control the
criteria for immigration to the US and to protect the US workforce, as well as forming
a part of the border security control framework.
The visa system has seen many changes and includes the introduction of the ESTA (Electronic
System for Travel Authorization) which applies for visitors
travelling to the US under the
Visa Waiver Program (VWP).The VWP includes a list of countries from which citizens
are eligible to
apply for an ESTA as opposed to applying
for a
different form of visa. For citizens that are not in the countries listed under
the VWP, they must
apply for a US visa instead.
Difference in purpose of visit
There are many differences between an
ESTA and other
US visas.
Firstly, an ESTA is only for tourism, business and transit purposes and ESTA holders are not permitted
to work or study in the US unless they obtain a different form of visa,
such as a
working or
student visa.
There is a long list of different visa types that cover various types of purpose such as
temporary workers, nurses, business visitors and many more. The type of visa that a
person applies for depends on the criteria under each one and there are many requirements under
the
US visas such as providing proof of finance, qualifications and other documentation
as part of the approval process.
Length of validation of ESTA vs US visa
When an
ESTA is issued it is valid for a period of two years, or until the passport
that it is linked to expires (whichever date is the sooner). A
US visa will have a
different length of validity depending on the type of visa, for example a student visa will
be granted for the length of
study.
Application processing differences
An
ESTA is considered to be the easier way to get permission to visit the US,
as the application process is very short. The applicant simply needs to complete an online
form that consists of a few pages, which generally takes no more than 10 minutes to complete
and submit. The applicant is required to provide personal information, passport details
and any details about
criminal convictions or health issues, if relevant.
Usually the
ESTA will be processed in just a few hours and is ready to be used
for travelling to the US, as it automatically links electronically to the holder’s passport.
A US visa on the other hand will usually require the applicant to visit the US
Embassy in their home country for an interview to determine whether their application will
be approved. The process can take weeks and in some cases where lots of documentation and
evidence is required, it can even take months to process a US visa.