ESTA Glossary
On this page, you will find all the useful definitions related to the ESTA in the form of a glossary. If you have any further questions, please feel free to consult our FAQ pages, helpand news pages.
Embassy:
An embassy is a diplomatic representation of one country to another. By extension, it is associated with the official buildings where diplomatic activities take place. Its mission is to maintain diplomatic relations with the country in which it is located and to assist expatriates if necessary.
Consulate:
A consulate is the department in a country that deals with expatriate relations in the country where it operates. It is responsible for identifying and assisting nationals while respecting local laws. It takes over the functions of the town hall and can issue civil status documents (identity card, passport, etc). It is also responsible for organizing elections.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security:
The Department of HomelandSecurity is a department of the U.S. government responsible for ensuring security on American soil. It is a reorganization of the 22 federal agencies involved in the security of the country in response to the attacks of September 11, 2001. This department is responsible for accepting ESTA applications.
U.S. Department of State:
The U.S. Department of State is the department in charge of international relations, the equivalent of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs in France. From its collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security, the Visa Waiver Program was born, and it continues to monitor the evolution of this program according to the relations between the United States and foreign countries.
Customs:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Its main mission is to fight against the infiltration of terrorists in the territory, the introduction of weapons, drugs, contraband or unauthorized products or illegal immigration.
Customs Declaration Form 6059B:
The 6059B customs declaration form, sometimes called the 6059B blue card, is a document that you will be asked to fill out when you fly. In addition to the usual fields asking you to fill in your name, first name, age, etc., you will be asked to declare the type of products and belongings you are carrying.
ESTA form:
The ESTA form (for Electronic System for Travel Authorization) is part of the Visa Waiver Program. Implemented in 2008, it became mandatory in 2009 for those eligible. It allows U.S. authorities to perform a screening process in order to grant or deny permission to travel to the United States.
Biometric passport:
The biometric passport is a modern passport that is difficult to falsify and provides better security. For this purpose, it contains an electronic chip where the person’s digitized biometric information (fingerprints, facial photos, etc.) is stored. It replaces the electronic passport.
Electronic passport:
The electronic passport is an optical passport. Introduced in the 2000s, it allows for better data security and makes the creation of fake passports much more complicated. Like a traditional passport, it contains on an electronic chip information specific to a person such as eye color, height or nationality.
U.S. Diplomatic Security Service:
The United States Diplomatic Security Service is the security service of the United States Department of State. It protects the State Department site and diplomatic and consular missions abroad. It is also responsible for the protection of U.S. diplomats outside the country and foreign officials visiting the United States.
Filing fee:
A minimum fee of $21 will be charged for the submission of an ESTA form. This application fee helps finance the services in charge of controlling applications and also tourism in the USA as a whole.
Travel Visa:
A visa is an official document issued by the competent authority of a country. Every person must obtain and present it in order to be allowed to enter a state of which he or she is not a national.
The B1 visa:
As the ESTA is not a visa, there are other authorizations to travel to the United States for a business trip of more than 90 days. The B1 visa is therefore essential if you want to go on a business trip such as :
- For a sports competition;
- Lecture;
- Training;
- Contract negotiation;
- Etc.
The B2 visa:
Like the B1 visa, the B2 visa is intended for people wishing to travel to the United States and who do not meet the requirements for ESTA authorization. You must apply for it if you need to travel for tourism or medical reasons.
The K visa:
The K visa is a special visa for people wishing to enter the United States and whose fiancé(e) is an American citizen. You must plan to marry within 90 days of the visa being issued and prove that you have met within the last two years.
Visa Waiver Program:
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) is a program set up by the American government. It is designed to facilitate the process by dispensing with a VISA for citizens of countries participating in the program who wish to travel to the United States for a short stay.