Visas for the United States of America

Having an ESTA or a Visa before departure is mandatory to travel to the United States. No visa is issued upon arrival in the country.

Pay attention to the ESTA eligibility and validity requirements. If you have traveled to “high-risk” countries (since 2011) and/or Cuba (since January 12, 2021), then a visa is required.

Note: You wish to request an expedited/urgent visa appointment.

Before contacting Visa Travel International to request an expedited appointment at the U.S. Embassy, ​​you must ensure you have documents proving the urgency of your trip. If it appears during your visa interview that you did not properly explain the reasons for your urgent travel, these facts will be noted in your file and could negatively impact the outcome of your visa application.

The visa fee for a regular visa appointment must be paid in advance.

Applicants who are granted an expedited appointment but are subsequently denied a visa by the U.S. Embassy or Consulate will not be permitted to use this option to obtain another expedited appointment.

The following reasons for travel are considered for expedited appointments:

• ESTA Denied

If you are a citizen of a Visa Waiver Program partner but have received notification that you are no longer eligible to travel to the United States under this program, or if you have recently traveled to Iraq, Iran, Sudan, or Syria, you may request an expedited appointment if your travel is imminent.

• Urgent Business Travel

The purpose of the trip is to resolve an urgent business matter for which the need for travel could not have been foreseen.

Essential Documentation:

A letter of invitation from the relevant company in the United States attesting to the urgency of the planned visit, describing the nature of the matter, and stating that the U.S. or local company will suffer a significant loss of opportunity if an expedited appointment is not available.

Proof of a necessary training program in the United States lasting three months or less, including letters from the local employer and the U.S. company providing the training. Both letters must include a detailed explanation of the training and explain why the U.S. or local company would suffer a significant loss of opportunity if an expedited appointment is not available.

• Medical Needs

The purpose of the trip is to obtain urgent medical care or to accompany a relative or employer for urgent medical care.

Essential Documentation:

A letter from your doctor in France describing your medical condition and the reasons why you are seeking medical care in the United States.

A letter from the doctor or hospital in the United States stating that they are prepared to treat your case and providing the approximate cost of treatment.

Proof of how you will pay for the treatment.

• Students or Exchange Visitors

The purpose of the trip is to begin or resume a valid program of study in the United States within 60 days when no regular appointment for a student/exchange visitor visa is available. This option is limited to students and exchange students who are within 60 days of their program start date. It is also limited to applicants who have not had their visa application denied at a U.S. embassy or consulate in the past six months.

Required Documentation:

Original Form I-20 or DS-2019 showing the program start date within 60 days.

Proof that you have paid the SEVIS fee (if applicable).

• Funeral/Death

The purpose of the trip is to attend the funeral or to arrange for the repatriation of the body of an immediate family member (mother, father, brother, sister, child) to the United States.

Essential Documentation:

A letter from the funeral director indicating the contact information, details of the deceased, and the date of the funeral.

You must also provide proof that the deceased was an immediate relative.

Please note that the waiting times for a “regular” appointment at the U.S. Embassy (to submit a visa application) are very long (often more than 200 days, or even nonexistent). Visa Travel International cannot unfortunately influence this waiting time, but to submit an expedited appointment request, a first “regular” appointment must already be scheduled (and the consular fees paid online, with no possibility of a refund if the expedited appointment is not accepted).

Note: for your appointment at the Embassy, ​​please do not bring any luggage, computer, suitcase or backpack, otherwise you will be refused entry.

To be able to enter the territory of the USA, the traveler must bring his passport with ESTA or Visa as well as a return flight ticket.

There is a Mobile Passport Control program allowing you to enter the USA (airports) more quickly by downloading on your smartphone a paid application (here) and registering in advance (Sentri). This will have the effect of saving you from filling out forms on arrival and may be useful to frequent USA travelers. To do so, you need to have an ESTA.

It should be noted that, even if the traveler is in possession of all the documents required to validate his entry into the USA, the American authorities reserve the right to refuse access to their territory without having to justify it.

The ESTA is generally valid for two years for a maximum duration of 90 days per stay.

The duration of the visa varies according to the request (type of visa requested, nationality of the applicant, etc.).

• The copy of the passport data page.

• A selfie photo of the traveller in .jpeg format (no smile, colour, clear/uniform background, head+shoulders only, no glasses, no mask, …)

• An information sheet to be filled-in.

These documents should be sent to us by email at contact@visatravel.fr

ESTA eligibility:

• The traveler must be in possession of a biometric or electronic passport with a validity of six months. Any holder of another type of passport will need to apply for a visa.

• Each traveler, including children, must be in possession of a passport and their own ESTA.

• ESTA must be requested no later than 72 hours before departure. Attention, we advise you to make your request as soon as possible, doing it at the last moment exposes you to the non-issuance of the ESTA in time.

Following your ESTA request:

• The request is granted, your ESTA will be offered as soon as possible.

• The request is rejected. In this case, the applicant will have to apply for a visa with the consular service of the United States Embassy.

Your entry into the United States:

• Submit your passport with ESTA (or visa if applicable).

• Show your return flight ticket.

• Present proof of solvency (credit card, check, cash, etc.).

WARNING: if you have applied for ESTA and it has been granted and then you have traveled to certain countries (since 2011) said to be at risk by the USA (Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Iran, South Sudan, etc.), your entry on American soil may be refused.

Same goes for Cuba: if you travelled to this country (since 12/01/2021) with the passport for your application, you will then need a Visa (specific process).