When your ESTA is Denied
Essential when you plan to visit the United States, the ESTA form allows you to leave for business or tourism and stay 90 days on American soil. Sometimes it is not granted.
If this is your case, don’t panic! The following information should allow you to react quickly and to prepare your stay in all serenity.
Causes of refusal
You have just learned that your ESTA authorization has been denied? The reasons for refusing the ESTA can be various, but in most cases, a refused ESTA form is simply a poorly filled out form. You may have inadvertently filled in information that is different from what is on your passport.
Your authorization may also be denied for security reasons. If you have indicated that you have committed serious crimes or offenses, U.S. immigration authorities may have made a choice to deny your application. All you have to do is reapply, respecting the ESTA rules for obtaining it.
If you plan to stay longer than 90 days, you will also be denied your ESTA certificate so be careful with the dates!
What are the steps to take?
You have just received your ESTA form with the mention “Travel not authorized”?
Situation 1: You made a mistake in your first application
Start by checking all the information on the document. If you notice that your name is misspelled or that you made a mistake in copying your transportation number, you can change your information and make a new ESTA declaration after the refusal, taking particular care in the proofreading stage. Note that you will have to pay the application fee again.
Good to know: you will not be able to reapply for 10 days.
Situation 2: You did not make any mistakes in your ESTA application
If all your information is correct, you will need to apply for a visa. To do this, you must go to the consulate or embassy.
In this context, several possibilities are available to you. You can opt for the B2 VISA (tourist travel) or the B1 VISA (business travel) which will allow you to travel to the United States for a maximum of 6 months.
You can also apply for the Green card if you fall into one of the following categories: asylum seeker, married to a U.S. citizen, close family in the U.S., selected in the annual lottery, job offer…
Avoid having your ESTA application denied
With the assistance of a specialist in administrative formalities, make sure you send a well-completed ESTA application to avoid refusals and unnecessary waste of time. The entire ESTA application process is taken care of: collection of your information, review and corrections, submission of the form.