If you are planning to travel to the USA in
the near future, you may well be aware of the
ESTA visa waiver program. This has replaced the old system of
filling out visa waiver forms on flights
entering the US, and is required for people coming into America from countries
accepted into the visa waiver program (which means those who do not need to
apply for a full US visa prior to travelling). Singapore is included in the
ESTA visa waiver program, and so Singapore passport holders can travel without
a visa if they go through the online ESTA process. But what does this actually
mean when you go to the USA?
Entry to the USA for Two Years
The ESTA permits you, on approval, to enter
the USA freely and without any other visa, as a passport holder from a
participating country like Singapore. This means you can travel into America
and pass through immigration relatively quickly. However, the scheme is
designed only for visitors. You are expected to show your plans to leave the
USA (such as a return flight booking), and are only allowed to stay for up to
90 days before the ESTA becomes invalid. If you want to move to America for
longer, it is important to see an immigration lawyer
who can help arrange what you need to do to do this legally.
The ESTA you initially applied for and
received online will be valid for two calendar years, meaning that if you don't
break any of its terms, you won't have to apply for another one during that 24
month period. Be sure to keep the number saved so that you can use it for
future trips.
What Happens If You Overstay An ESTA?
Overstaying an ESTA is quite a big deal,
and will lead to bans on your future use of the ESTA system. Depending on how
long you overstay, there will be a ban of three to ten years on you entering
the US at all, and even when this ban is up, you won't be able to use the visa
waiver program again and will have to apply for a full US visa, which may be
refused due to your history of overstaying on an ESTA. If there is a good
reason why you need to stay longer than planned, it is always best to talk to a
lawyer specialising in this so that you can ensure you are not penalised.
The ESTA system is easy to use and a great
benefit when travelling to the US, but make sure you aren't in a situation
where you have to overstay as the consequences can be serious.
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