If you are planning a trip to the USA, some preparation is required. We will explain the most important aspects of the ESTA application, visa categories, and the procedures and problems in the entry process.
You can still submit an ESTA application to us despite the current Corona crisis!
Before your stay in the United States, you must apply for your ESTA or a US visa. Also, you have to take care of valid travel documents. One of the most important documents is, of course, your passport.
A valid passport is the main requirement for your entry into the United States. You need it when applying for your travel permit and when you present it to the US border officials at the airport.
Your passport must meet the following requirements:
A valid passport is mandatory for entering the USA. Passport for entering the USA
As a traveler from a country participating in the Visa Waiver Program, you do not necessarily need a visa to enter America. Instead, you can opt for the much more accessible ESTA entry permit.
ESTA stands for "Electronic System for Travel Authorization" and allows USA travelers to arrive by air or sea. With ESTA, however, there are a few things to consider:
Good to know
If you are not qualified for visa-free travel to the US or plan more than just a vacation or short business meetings, you must apply for a US visa.ntragen.
Anyone who wants to work, study, or undergo training in the USA needs a visa. There are over 50 different visa categories, which can be divided into two main categories: Non-immigrant visas and immigrant visas.
Non-immigrant visas |
concerns |
purpose |
C-1/D |
Employees of airlines or ships / crew members |
Crossing the country |
E-1 |
Authorized dealers as well as managers, directors, and specialists of companies trading with the USA |
Business travel, trade |
E-2 |
Investors as well as managers, directors and specialists of companies that have invested in the USA |
Business, investments |
H-1B |
Highly specialized experts and professionals in positions that require expertise: only with an academic degree |
Work, sciences |
I |
Journalists and media representatives |
Reporting, documentation, news |
L-1 und L-1 Blanket |
Employees who are transferred within the company: standard procedure or simplified application procedure for companies with many placements |
Work, employee transfer |
O-1 |
People with exceptional abilities in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics: even without an academic degree |
Art, education, science, sports |
TN (NAFTA) |
Skilled workers from Canada and Mexico |
Work |
B-1 |
Business travelers, domestic workers or personal employees of US citizens abroad, athletes, members of non-profit professions |
Business travelers, domestic workers or personal employees of US citizens abroad, athletes, members of non |
B-2 |
Tourists who want to spend up to 180 days in the USA |
Vacation |
B-1 / B-2 |
Travelers who want to combine business and tourism activities in the USA for up to 180 days |
Work, sports, service, or care combined with vacation |
F-1 |
Students |
Studying, language learning, other education, and training |
J-1 |
Trainees, interns, au-pairs, exchange visitors, exchange teachers and professors, foreign doctors in training programs |
Education, child care |
M-1 |
Non-academic visitors of professional educational institutions |
Education |
Immigrant visas |
concerns |
purpose |
EB-1 |
US immigrants who are incredibly valuable to the USA because of their professional qualifications |
Employment-based immigration |
EB-2 |
US immigrants with special skills |
Employment-based immigration |
EB-3 |
US immigrants who are qualified professionals or academics |
Employment-based immigration |
EB-4 |
US immigrants who are employees of churches and religious communities |
Employment-based immigration |
EB-5 |
US immigrants wanting to invest money in the United States |
Investment-based immigration |
IR-1 |
US immigrants who are spouses of US citizens |
Immigration for a family reunion |
IR-2 |
Children of US citizens under 21 who are not married |
Immigration for a family reunion |
IR-3, IR-4, ICH-3, IH-4 |
Children adopted outside the USA by US citizens and children to be adopted in the USA |
Immigration for a family reunion |
F-1 |
Unmarried descendants of US citizens over 21 and their minor children |
Immigration for a family reunion |
F-2A |
Spouses and unmarried children of Green Card holders under 21 years of age |
Immigration for a family reunion |
F-2B |
Unmarried children of Green Card holders over 21 years of age |
Immigration for a family reunion |
F-3 |
Married children of US citizens, their spouses, and minor children |
Immigration for a family reunion |
F-4 |
Siblings of US citizens |
Immigration for a family reunion |
The application procedure for a US visa involves several stages. Before the end of the process, there is always an interview at the responsible US Consulate or Embassy.How can I apply for a US visa?
People who do not qualify for visa-free travel to the US, or who want to stay for longer than a vacation or short business trip, must apply for a US visa.
When selecting your US visa, you will need to find your way through the more than 50 different visa categories. As a business traveler, trader, or manager, you would probably qualify for one of the E-Visa or the B-1 Visa and as a tourist for the B-2 Visa.
Some people travel with H-1B for highly specialized professionals or the O-1 visa for people with exceptional abilities. There are also separate categories for students and trainees, namely the J-1 and F-1 categories. You are welcome to seek advice from experienced visa experts to get the right visa for your trip.
In addition to your ESTA or visa application, you will receive a couple of pages of forms. These include the concise TSA form with name, date of birth, gender, and the more detailed APIS form.
When you enter the USA, your airline will request personal data for the Advance Passenger Information System. This includes:
Many airlines now accept digital submissions, e.g., via the airline's website. The reason for the additional query is the airline's obligation to report passenger information that is not contained in the machine-readable passport.
Before entering the United States, make sure you understand the import guidelines for the following items:
Also, you should familiarize yourself with the customs declaration to be filled out. Consequences of exceeding the allowances or installing a luggage lock can be found at US entry regulations.
Do you have all applications, documents, and rules for your trip to the USA? Then you are ready to go!
With the following tricks, you can cross the border into the USA without stress:SA:
Border control officer: „Why are you visiting the United States?“
Tourist: |
„Pleasure.“ |
Business traveler: |
„Business.“ |
Traveler with F1, J1, or H3 visa: |
„Study“ oder „Traineeship.“ |
Nonimmigrant visa with work permit: |
„Work.“ oder „Temporary Work.“ |
DV (Green Card) owner |
„Immigrant.“ oder „Lawful Permanent Resident“ |
Despite good preparation, it can happen that a US border guard will refuse to let you into the United States. The reasons for such a refusal of entry are numerous.
One of the most common reasons is incomplete documentation. However, there are plenty of other small and large errors that can lead to rejection at the US border. These include:
If the US Border Patrol considers you unfit to enter the US, they will first call in a second officer for a secondary inspection. If this second officer also refuses your entry, this decision is final and cannot be appealed by you.
The border guards do not have to tell you the reason for this. Your options are now limited to contacting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to request information and assistance upon your return to your home country using an online Traveler Redress Inquiry Program form.
After being denied entry at the US border, you are no longer eligible for visa-free travel (ESTA) for the time being. Under certain circumstances, further sanctions such as entry bans or the cancellation of your visa may be imposed.
To avoid rejections at the border, entry bans, and unpleasant situations in the preparation of your USA trip, get the help of an ESTA expert. The staff of The American Dream will be happy to advise you.