Irish citizens can easily apply for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) visa waiver if they intend to travel to the United States. The American visa application for Irish Citizens or ESTA allows the Irish passport holders to visit the USA for business, tourism, medical, transit, and short study programs without a visa for up to 90 days per visit. Ireland was added to the Visa Waiver program in the year 1995. On the other hand, security measures, anticipated to address terrorist threats, have called for the pre-screening of the travelers prior to their arrival to the US.

The ESTA program was established in the year 2009 for the purposes of restructuring the processing of the visa waiver applications and to provide United States Customs and Border Protection, and the Department of Homeland Security with the potential to pre-screen the travelers against numerous no-fly criminals along with the terrorist list databases. This, since the year 2009, the Irish citizens are required to obtain an approved ESTA application to enter into the USA. On the other hand, in the case where an Irish citizen is ineligible or denied for ESTA, or wants to visit the United States for more than 90 days or for other travel purposes than to those permitted under ESTA, then the Ireland national needs to apply for the relevant U.S. visa.

Apply For ESTA Online

An Irish passport holder must apply for ESTA application online. An ESTA approval is needed prior to boarding the sea or air vessel to the U.S. and should be applied for at least 72 hours before departure. An unexpired, valid electronic passport must be used for the ESTA application. The applications must review detailed ESTA requirements before starting their ESTA application process online.

ESTA Application Requirements And Advisory

• It is crucial to submit the application at least 72 hours before the departure to the U.S.
• If the ESTA has been denied, then the applicants can still apply for the B1 Business Visa or B2 Tourist Visa
• An approved ESTA could be withdrawn at any time and does not assure entry to the U.S.
• A separate ESTA application is needed per infant, child, teen, or adult traveling to the U.S.

ESTA Advantages To Consider

ESTA American visa application for Irish citizens offers several advantages. The top ones are:

• The ESTA application, when approved, can be used for multiple entries into the U.S.
• A Mobile application or an online desktop
• Date of passport expiry or Two years validity, whichever is sooner
• The decision on the ESTA applications are generally provided immediately

Having an official ESTA application does not make the Irish passport holder enjoy similar levels of rights as that of an American visa holder. An American visa application is a must and should be filed for a more comprehensive application form, which is called DS-160. Later, they are required to attend an interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate. Moreover, depending on the type of visa being applied for, the applications must prepare additional documentation that helps prove the authenticity of their U.S. travel purposes and plans before they enter into the country.