Many people have long dreamed of visiting the USA. This country is really amazing. It impresses with a combination of cultures and traditions, as well as a rich natural heritage.
In the United States is concentrated just a huge number of vibrant attractions that are striking in their scale.
A trip to America will give the traveler a lot of incredible and powerful emotions, there is no doubt about it. However, getting here is not so simple. The visa legislation of the country cannot always be called loyal.
However, there is a special program – ESTA for USA for Dutch citizens, which greatly simplifies the possibility of crossing the American border.
The Netherlands has been a member of the Visa Waiver Program for many years. This means that citizens of this country do not need a visa to visit the United States. They just need to apply for ESTA.
What does ESTA stand for?
This is the Electronic System for Travel Authorization for visiting US territory for tourist purposes. The program is designed to determine how the traveler fits into the set standards that the authorities of America impose on tourists.
The ESTA system conducts a detailed assessment of the applicant, after which it decides how safe the tourist is and whether or not there is even the slightest risk to the well-being of the country and its inhabitants.
If the traveler managed to become the owner of the confirmation from the ESTA system, he has every right to use any type of transport for transfer to America. However, automated testing is not always necessary. If the applicant already has a duly issued visa, then no additional confirmation is needed.
ESTA Terms and Conditions
The ESTA for the USA for Dutch citizens allows them to visit this country for tourist and business purposes (only for purposes that correspond to a guest visa) for up to 90 days without a visa.
Persons entering the country through a visa-free entry program must always obtain permission through ESTA. Their passports are automatically scanned at the place of arrival in the United States, and the data is entered into the OBIM program of the Department of Homeland Security.
ESTA can be obtained by any person who has the citizenship of the Netherlands, while he does not have a valid tourist visa, is going to visit the United States as a tourist or at work and has already purchased a plane ticket (you must specify the flight number).
To apply for ESTA, Dutch citizens can visit the US ESTA electronic travel authorization site and verify their eligibility for this program. Each line must be filled out in the ESTA form, including a national identification code that Dutch citizens do not have.
Instead, you can specify any other relevant number – for example, tax number, insurance number, the serial number of a passport or other identification card.
The finished application consists of three parts: information about the identity of the applicant according to the passport, information about possible convictions and the purpose of the trip.
Currently, due to the introduction of enhanced security measures introduced by the United States, travelers traveling from countries included in the Visa Waiver Program are required to obtain ESTA approval in advance
Duration of ESTA
It may take up to 72 hours to obtain an ESTA entry permit. The validity of the ESTA entry permit is 2 years.
During these 2 years, you can travel to the United States of America an unlimited number of times until the answers to the YES / NO questions in the application for ESTA entry permit change, or until your passport expires.
Possible restrictions
Since February 2016, the US government has legislatively introduced some amendments to the Visa Waiver program to exclude the possibility of terrorists entering the country.
According to innovations, people with dual citizenship, one of which is Iraqi, Iranian, Sudanese or Syrian, cannot get an ESTA-permit. ESTA bans also include people who have visited Iraq, Iran, Syria, Sudan, Yemen, Libya, and Somalia since March 1, 2011.
If a journalist or humanitarian worker has fallen into this circle, he can count on ESTA if there is evidence of his professional activities in these countries. Everyone else needs to apply for a visa.
