US Visa for Australian Citizens

Updated on Aug 25, 2024 | Online US Visa

Australian citizens have a major advantage over travelling to the United States of America. Unlike other travelers they don’t have to go through the piles of US visa paperwork or get an appointment for visa interviews at the US Embassy or Consulate. They can take advantage of entering the United States of America without a US visa. Instead, they should get prior travel authorization online by applying for ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization). A hassle-free and quickest way to obtain a travel permit to explore the landscape of the United States of America.

The same advantage can be availed by all the citizens of the country who are a part of the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Nationals of Australia can travel to the United States with ESTA. The nationals of Australia preparing to leave for the USA, to explore the nation with friends and family or find business opportunities to expand their knowledge can opt for the ESTA to secure their entry permit into the US port.

What is the Need for ESTA and Why Do Citizens of Australia Need It?

ESTA is an online process used to decide the eligibility of Australian citizens willing to travel to the United States of America. It is also a pre-authorized system administered by the US CBP (Customs and Border Protection). As Australia is part of the US VWP countries, the citizens of Australia are mandated to have ESTA if they are undertaking a short trip to the USA. However, the purpose of the visit to the US is restricted and they have to fulfil the online ESTA requirements to obtain it.

ESTA Eligibility for Australian Citizens

Like other online travel permits, the ESTA for the US also has certain eligibility requirements. All the citizens of Australia applying for ESTA should fulfil the eligibility standards listed below.

  • Travel Purpose: Traveler’s purposes to visit the United States of America should only be transit, tourism or business trips.
  • Trip Stay Duration: The travelers stay in the USA should be short (within 90 days). travelers are advised to follow the stay duration for their every stay.
  • Passport Requirement: Having a biometric passport is compulsory.
  • Criminal History: Travelers should not have any past criminal records.

If travelers are planning to stay beyond 90 days, they are recommended to look for other US visa options. Besides the basic qualifications to apply for an ESTA, there is a lot to understand about the eligibility standards. The important requirements are a past criminal record or communicable diseases. travelers who have a past criminal record in any part of the world are not eligible to apply for an ESTA. Also, having a serious communicable disease makes the travelers ineligible for travelling to the USA with an ESTA. In such cases, travelers should contact the US Embassy or Consulate regarding their USA travel.

What are the Benefits of an ESTA?

ESTA offers an array of benefits to VWP country’s citizens. The best among them is its quick approval, Australian citizens don’t have to wait for weeks to get a US visa, and they can get their ESTA within 24-72 hours after applying for an ESTA. No more physical visits to the US Consulate or Embassy. The two-year validity and online renewal option of ESTA is also an added benefit for travelers. The major advantage of an ESTA is the facility of multiple entries into the USA.

travelers with ESTA can enter and exit the USA multiple times through land, sea and air ports within its validity period. For every visit to the US, travelers can stay for a maximum of 90 days (3 months). The simplified application process of ESTA makes it easy to apply for it within 20-25 minutes. Additionally, the ESTA application cost is lower than that of other US visas.

Gathering the Documents Needed to Apply for ESTA

Knowing the required documents beforehand is important. Gathering all the needed documents in advance saves a lot of time during the ESTA application process. A significant advantage of ESTA is its minimal paperwork. Following are the ESTA online requirements for Australian citizens.

  • A valid biometric passport is compulsory (the validity of the passport should extend 6 months beyond the applicant's expected arrival date in the USA)
  • A functioning email ID
  • A valid debit or credit card for paying ESTA fee
  • Accommodation address and related details (if required)

Make sure to check the eligibility and validity of the passport before applying for ESTA. travelers are advised to look into the recent updates for any changes in the required documents.

Steps Involved in the ESTA Application Process

Filling out the ESTA application form is effortless, applicants have to enter the basic information, answer all the eligibility questions and lastly upload their passport. The ESTA application process is easy and it only takes a few minutes (15-25 minutes) to complete the entire process. Applicants who are ready with the required documents can follow the below steps.

Step 1: Apply Online or Click the Online ESTA Application Form

Look for the ‘Apply Online’ tab on the website and click it. Applicants will be redirected to the online ESTA application form. Check it once and start to enter the details.

Step 2: ESTA Application Form and it’s Details

Before entering the details, read the ESTA application form for a better understanding. Initially, applicant’s will fill out their basic details like the name of the applicant, their first and last name, gender, parent's name, citizenship, their valid email address, marital status, date and place of birth and residential address (applicant’s staying place or address in the United States).

The ESTA application form also requires travel details of the applicants, such as their travel purpose and date of arrival in the United States. Do not rush, take time to provide the correct information in each entry field.

Step 3: ESTA Application Form Eligibility Questions

The eligibility questions in the ESTA application form are completely related to the applicant’s health issues and criminal record. Applicants are not eligible to apply for ESTA if they answer yes to any of the eligibility questions. Before answering the question, applicants are advised to read and understand them. Applicants with past criminal records are mandated to provide a proper disclosure.

Providing incorrect information and failing to disclose the health issue or criminal record (if any) will lead to ESTA rejection and further consequences. It is mandatory to answer all the ESTA eligibility questions.

Step 4: Upload Passport

Uploading the applicant’s passport copy is the final step. The passport copy should be of high resolution and clearly visible. Most importantly, the MR Zone (the last 2 lines on the passport) must be evident and clear. Applicants can choose PDF, JPG, PNG or JPEG format options to upload their passport copy. After uploading the passport copy, check it to ensure it is clear.

Step 5: Double-Check the Information

Make double-checking a practice to follow before moving to the ESTA fee payment. Skim through every entry field and ensure the details are entered correctly. The provided ESTA application details should match the applicant’s passport details. Final checking of information provides a chance for the travelers to edit or correct them if required.

Step 6: ESTA Application Fee

After checking, the applicants can move to the ESTA fee payment. Make sure the debit or credit card has the required funds. Applicants can select any payment option to pay the fee.

Checking ESTA Application Status Online

Applicants can track their ESTA application status online using their ESTA application number or passport details. Every applicant will receive their application number after successfully completing and submitting the application. The outcome of the applicant ESTA application will be received within 24 hours, if not, applicants are advised to wait for 2-3 days. The results of the application status are listed below.

ESTA Authorization Approved

If the applicant's ESTA is approved, then the status will read as ‘ESTA Authorization Approved.’ Such applicants can travel to the United States of America.

ESTA Application Pending

If the applicant's ESTA reads as ‘ESTA Application Pending,’ it means that the application is still under review. Sometimes, a few additional security checks are required for some applications, which might delay the process. If so, applicants are advised to wait for 2-3 days, as the application process can take 48-72 hours.

ESTA Application Not Found

The ‘Application Not Found’ status indicates an error or mismatch of information with ESTA records, such as not entering the right details. Technical issues, poor internet connection, unsuccessful payment, etc., can also contribute to the status.

ESTA Not Authorized

If the applicant's ESTA application is rejected or denied, the status will read as ‘ESTA Not-Authorized.’ Such applicants cannot travel to the USA with not-authorized ESTA. travelers are recommended to reapply or apply for other relevant US visas.

The ESTA authorization will not be granted to applicants who are found to be suspected of health or security threats to the USA. If the applicant’s ESTA is denied or rejected, they can apply for other US visas to continue their travel. travelers should confirm their ESTA authorization approval before starting their USA journey.

What Should Australian Citizens Do if Their ESTA Expires During Their Stay in the USA?

The expiry of ESTA will not affect the traveler’s departure from the United States of America. Traveler’s ESTA should be valid at the time of entry into US ports. If the ESTA expires during their stay, travelers can still continue to utilize the entire 90 days stay in the USA. The expiry of travelers ESTA during their stay in the USA will not lead to any consequences as long as they depart from the USA within 90 days. However, overstaying needs to be avoided in such situations. travelers should apply for a new ESTA before they start any future trips to the United States of America.  

If the ESTA is about to expire, travelers can apply for a new one before its expiry, which replaces the older one. travelers are recommended to check their ESTA validity before each trip to the USA to avoid such travel mishaps.

Reasons for the Need for a New ESTA

Besides the expiry of travelers current ESTA, there are a set of reasons which demand travelers to apply for a new ESTA. Each Traveler's ESTA is linked with their passport. So, any changes in the passport will make the travelers current ESTA invalid and they are mandated to apply for a new ESTA. If not, their entry will be denied at the US port. travelers who carry out the following changes in their passport are mandated to apply for a new ESTA for their US travel.

  • Name change
  • Getting a new passport
  • Changing information in the passport (such as gender, citizenship, address, etc.)
  • Expiry of the current passport

Overstaying in the USA For Emergency Purposes

Undoubtedly, overstaying is not recommended. If the Traveler’s situation requires their presence in the United States for a short period after their stay duration due to unavoidable emergencies, they can submit their request for ‘Satisfactory Departure.’ Only the travelers who travelled to the USA under VWP and were unable to depart from the country due to emergencies are eligible to request satisfactory departure. travelers can apply for satisfactory departure by contacting the USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) or CBP (Customs and Border Protection). Requesting for satisfactory departure requires proper documentation or evidence such as booked flight tickets, financial statements to support their additional stay, cancelled flight notice, etc., from the travelers explaining their emergency and intention to depart from the USA.

If the Traveler’s satisfactory departure request is approved, they will be given an additional 30 days to depart from the US. travelers are mandated to leave the country within 30 days, their stay should not extend any longer. travelers ESTA must be valid for applying for satisfactory departure and the request should be initiated 3-5 days before the travelers authorized stay expires (which is within 90 days) in the United States of America.

ESTA Validity and Extension for Australian Citizens

Starting from the date of ESTA authorization, the ESTA is valid for 2 years. This does not imply that travelers can stay in the USA for two years. They can use the ESTA multiple times to enter the United States of America within two years. For each trip, travelers can stay for 90 days in the USA. The validity of the ESTA is also linked with the Traveler’s passport, if the Australian citizen's passport expires before the ESTA validity, then the travelers ESTA will expire along with their passport.

Unfortunately, the validity of ESTA cannot be extended. travelers can apply for the new ESTA, before or after the expiry of the current ESTA, according to their travel requirements. If travelers apply for a new ESTA before the expiry of the existing ESTA, their current ESTA will be replaced by the new one.

What are the Reasons for ESTA Denial and What is the Next Step?

The ESTA not-authorization or denial status can be easily avoided if the denial reason is related to mistakes or mismatched information in the application form, but a lot of other reasons, such as security threats, etc., also result in ESTA denial. A few reasons for the ESTA denial or rejection are listed below.

  • Mistakes in the ESTA application form (such as mismatched or incorrect information)
  • Past overstaying history
  • Health or security threat to the nation
  • Not providing adequate financial statement
  • Disclosing incorrect information or hiding the truth

After receiving the ESTA not-authorized status, travelers should analyze the reason for their application denial. If the reason for the initial delay is an information mismatch, then travelers can try reapplying with correct information, which might improve the chance of ESTA approval the second time, but there is no guarantee. travelers can still travel to the United States of America by obtaining a US visa that suits their travel needs.

Check your eligibility for ESTA or Online US Visa. Belgian citizens, Chilean citizens, Italian citizens and Slovak citizens can apply for Online US Visa.

 
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