US Visa for French Citizens

Travellers visiting the United States of America will surely experience wonderful travel. The national parks and adventure activities in the United States offer breathtaking experiences of the vast landscape. The nation is filled with successive business opportunities welcoming the entrepreneur to visit, learn and invest. Planning an international trip, particularly to the United States of America, comes with great challenges. Travellers should qualify for all the requirements to obtain a US visa, which takes a lot of documentation work.

Surprisingly, the Visa Waiver Program initiative simplified the process of securing a US travel permit. However, it can only be used by citizens of a few countries that are part of the US VWP (Visa Waiver Program). Nationals of such countries are exempted from US visas, but they are mandated to apply for ESTA. Being part of VWP, French Citizens can obtain ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) for their short US trips.

Online US Visa for French Citizens

ESTA is a pre-approval granted by the US CBP (Customs and Border Protection). ESTA verifies the information and determines the eligibility of the travellers. ESTA is open only to citizens of the countries included in the US VWP. So, ESTA is mandatory for French Citizens, if they are planning for a short-stay trip to the US. However, the travellers should meet the necessary requirements to get an ESTA. Travellers are advised to check the eligibility and ESTA online requirements to have better knowledge before applying.

Advantages of Online US Visa

ESTA is a simple and fast process for getting a US travel permit. The ESTA application fee is comparatively less than the other US visa application fee. Citizens of France have the following advantages by opting for an online ESTA.

• ESTA is a complete online process
• The validity of ESTA is two years
• Multiple entries into the United States of America within the 2 years
• The stay duration is 90 continuous days for each visit
• Entering the USA through air, land or sea
• The ESTA application process only takes 2-3 days (72 hours)
• Simplified application process
• Minimal paperwork
• Cost-effective

Citizens of the VWP countries can make use of the advantages by applying and getting an ESTA for USA travel. Nationals who are denied ESTA approval can apply for the other types of US visas by reaching the nearest U.S. Consulate or Embassy.

Who is Eligible to Apply for ESTA?

Even though the ESTA application is open to all the nationals of France, not everyone can avail it. Travellers or French Citizens who fit into the below eligibility standards can obtain an ESTA for their US trip.

• The purpose of the traveller’s trip should be business, transit or tourism
• The traveller’s stay duration should not exceed 90 days for each visit
• The travellers should have a biometric passport

The French Citizens who have dual citizenship with Canada or the United States of America need not bother about obtaining an ESTA. They can use their US or Canadian passport to enter the USA. If the US trip requirement demands a longer stay (which exceeds 90 days), travellers are recommended to look for other US visa types. Travellers cannot work or study in the United States using the ESTA. Such travellers are recommended to have the respective US visa before entering into the United States of America.

Who is Denied Travel to the US Using ESTA?

Despite the ESTA being open to all the citizens of VWP countries, only the citizens who qualify for the eligibility can avail the benefits of travelling to the USA using ESTA. As per the law travellers of the following category cannot travel to the USA under VWP. Such travellers are mandated to secure a valid US visa prior to their arrival in the United States of America.

• Citizens of France who have dual citizenship with the countries of Sudan, North Korea, Iran, Syria, and Iraq.
• Citizens of France who are also citizens of Cuba or who have stayed in or travelled to Cuba on or after 21^st January 2021.

However, these restrictions do not apply to the citizens of France, who have travelled to the above-mentioned countries to fulfil official duties and military services of the government. Such citizens are mandated to carry their respective documents while entering the U.S. port.

Difference Between ESTA (Online US Visa) and US Visa

ESTA is a travel permit that determines the eligibility of Visa Waiver Program country’s citizens to enter the US. The ESTA and the US visa permit travellers to enter the USA. However, they have their differences in purpose, eligibility, validity, application process, etc. The primary difference is their eligibility, ESTA is accessible only to citizens of VWP countries, whereas eligible citizens of any country can apply for a US visa. The validity period and stay duration differ for each type of US visa, on the other hand, ESTA stay duration and validity are fixed, which is 90 continuous days for each trip and multiple visits, with two years of validity. 

The travel purpose to the USA with ESTA is restricted to transit or tourist and business trips, but the types of US visas entitle the travellers to choose the appropriate visa for their varied travel needs such as academic, work, etc. Getting a US visa requires a lot of paperwork, documents, a physical visit to the U.S. Embassy and a visa interview. Conversely, ESTA is completely online and the simplified application process only requires minimal paperwork. The cost of an ESTA is comparatively less than a US visa. Eligible travellers can go for the ESTA and others can choose an appropriate US visa.

What Documents Do the French Citizens Need to Apply for ESTA?

All the citizens of France who are applying for ESTA should gather the necessary documents prior to the application process. The required documents for obtaining an ESTA include the following

• A valid biometric passport (which should be valid six months after the traveller’s arrival in the United States)
• A working email ID (for registration and communication)
• Credit or debit card (for paying visa fee)

ESTA Application Procedure for French Citizens

Travellers are recommended to carefully check the eligibility requirements and necessary documents prior to the application process. The Online USA application form has all the basic personal details about the travellers such as the name, date of birth, place of birth, country of birth, email address, marital status and traveller’s citizenship. Then the application continues with the traveller’s passport details, the issue date and expiry date of the passport, passport number, issuing country, etc. Travellers should spend more time reading and answering the eligibility details related to past criminal records, if any.

Travellers with criminal records are not eligible to apply for ESTA, they can visit the nearest U.S. Consulate or Embassy for further details. After completing the ESTA application, take extra time to double-check the entered information and cross-check it with the passport. Ensure the details and information exactly match with the passport. Any incorrect information will only lead to ESTA application denial. So, after checking, travellers can proceed to the application fee by using any of the given payment methods.

How to Check the ESTA Application Status After Applying?

The status of travellers ESTA application can easily be tracked using the online portal. Following the successful application submission, travellers will receive an ESTA application number, which is vital to track the ESTA application status. Travellers can either use the ESTA application number or passport details (issuance and expiry date and traveller’s citizenship). Besides, the date of birth and passport number of the travellers becomes mandatory to check the ESTA application status. Travellers looking for further information or assistance regarding their ESTA application can contact the help desk.

Is it Mandatory for All the French Citizens to Apply for ESTA?

ESTA is a travel permit to the US offered only for eligible citizens of VWP countries. As a US VWP country, citizens of France are eligible to avail ESTA. ESTA is an easy, hassle-free and economical opportunity to obtain a US travel permit. This does not make ESTA the only option for nationals of France for their US trip. Travellers planning to stay in the US for more than 90 days and travelling for various purposes (such as academic, employment, etc.) can explore the US visa types to pick the best one that favours their travel needs.

Citizens of France travelling to the United States of America for a short stay (90 days per visit) with transit, business or tourist motive are mandated to apply for ESTA.

ESTA Validity and Stay Duration for French Citizens

The validity period of ESTA is 2 years, and the validity begins on the date of issuance. However, the ESTA is connected with the traveller’s passport. So, if the traveller’s passport expires within two years, despite the validity date, the ESTA expires along with the expiry date of the passport. Travellers should check the expiry dates of their passport before applying for ESTA. ESTA entitles travellers to stay in the USA for 90 days for each of their visits. Travellers can always apply for a new ESTA after the expiry of the existing one.

The ESTA entitles travellers to multiple entries in the USA. Travellers should be mindful about making changes such as changes of name and other information in their passport because such changes make the existing ESTA invalid. After carrying forward such information changes travellers should apply for a new ESTA.

ESTA Application Process and Approval

One of the major advantages of ESTA is the quick approval, usually the ESTA approval is granted within 24 hours. It might also take up to 72 hours, which is 2-3 days. Keeping this in mind, travellers are recommended to submit their ESTA application 70-72 hours prior to their journey to get enough time for ESTA application processing and approval. Most travellers may have doubts about the ESTA application pending, this could only define that the traveller’s ESTA application is still under review. It does not guarantee the approval or rejection of the traveller’s application.

Rather than panicking, travellers are advised to wait for the status to change or to reach out to the customer's help desk. As mentioned above, the process might take 2-3 days, sometimes, a few applications might require additional security checks for processing. Once the ESTA is approved, make a note of the expiry date and application number. It is advised to get a physical copy and a digital copy of it for documentation purposes. Securing a valid ESTA does not guarantee travellers entry into the USA. Despite having a valid ESTA, customs officers at the US port can deny the entry of any travellers.

ESTA Application Rejection and Reapply

Countless reasons contribute to the rejection of ESTA applications. Providing incorrect information, information mismatch, not disclosing the proper information, mistakes in the ESTA application form, etc., are a few reasons for ESTA application rejection. If the traveller's ESTA application is rejected, the status will read as ‘Application Not Authorized.’ In such situations travellers are recommended to know the reason or cause of ESTA application rejection. Reapplying for a new ESTA without understanding the cause of rejection will again lead to rejection.

The rejection of ESTA does not stop travellers from exploring the USA. Travellers can apply for the appropriate US visa, if their ESTA is rejected. For reapplying, travellers should consider fixing the errors (mistakes in ESTA application form or information mismatch) and wait for a few days, at least 5-10 days.

ESTA Renewal and Extension

Travellers can renew their ESTA, but it cannot be extended. If the traveller’s ESTA expires, they cannot renew it. The ESTA renewal should be completed before the expiry of the existing ESTA. In such situations, travellers should apply for a new ESTA. It is not possible to transfer the ESTA from one passport details to another, based on the current information and details travellers should apply for a new ESTA. Before booking their tickets to the USA trip, travellers are advised to check their ESTA and passport expiry dates to avoid unpleasant situations such as entry denial into the USA.

ESTA for Children or Minors

Every individual entering the US under VWP needs ESTA, be it children or minors. Children are mandated to have an ESTA to enter the USA for their short-stay trips. Minors or children travelling with their parents to the USA under VWP should obtain a separate ESTA. They cannot travel to the USA using their parent’s passport, they should have a biometric passport. Parents can apply for ESTA on behalf of their children who should be under 18 years of age. An ESTA application submitted by a minor without the support of parents or adults will be rejected.

Travellers planning for a family vacation can opt for the ESTA group application. Each family member should have a separate ESTA. The eligibility, necessary documents and the ESTA application process remain the same for minors and children. If the child’s surname is different from that of their parent, then parents should provide proof, such as a birth certificate. If a child is travelling with an adult (such as grandparents, other family members and family friends), they should provide an Authorization letter from the child’s parent or legal guardian. To avoid further consequences, a letter stating the traveller’s relationship with the child is crucial.

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Ensure you have checked your eligibility for Online US Visa. In addition to French citizens German citizens, Greek citizens, New Zealand citizens and Japanese citizens and many others are eligible for Online US Visa.