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Visa for the United States of America
Read this page carefully, here you will find all the information for the most common visas for the USA.
The global outbreak of corona (Covid-19) has major consequences for travel to America. Also for travelers who already have an ESTA. Read all about the current state of affairs on this page, but also about the expectations regarding traveling to America with an ESTA and the corona virus. All information on this page was updated on October 26, 2020.
Yes. Currently, there is no country with as many confirmed corona cases as the United States of America. On October 26, 2020, 8,637,109 cases were reported. 225,239 people have also died from the corona virus. The states of Texas, California, Florida, New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts have been hit hardest, but infections have now been detected in all states.
Yes. Despite the corona outbreak, you can still apply for an ESTA America. Applications are honored on average as quickly as normal. All the more because the exact travel plans do not have to be known at the time of the application and an ESTA is valid for two years, many applications are still being processed and approved. So if you want to go to America for the next two years, you can apply for an ESTA.
All awarded ESTAs are provisionally valid for two years from the date of issue. Only if the passport to which the ESTA is linked expires will the validity expire earlier. Corona does not change this. However, having a valid ESTA doesn’t mean you can travel to America without any hassle. The US government has taken several measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus. This also includes a temporary entry ban for people who have been in a risk area.
The Trump administration does not currently exclude travellers based on nationality, but it depends on their recent travel history. Even if they have an ESTA, they may be refused entry to America due to the risk of further spread of corona. This temporary measure is better known as the entry ban. The entry ban currently means that travellers will no longer be admitted to American territory who have been in the Netherlands or Belgium in the 14 days before departure, or in one of the following countries:
The entry ban in America applies to anyone who has been in one of these countries in the past 14 days;
Belgium
Brazil
China
Denmark
Germany
Estonia
Finland
France
Greece
The United Kingdom*
Hungary
Ireland
Iceland
Iran
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
The Netherlands
Norway
Austria
Poland
Portugal
Slovenia
Slovakia
Spain
Czech Republic
Sweden
Switzerland
* excluding overseas territories outside Europe
Exceptions
Exceptions to the US entry ban with an ESTA apply to residents of the United States and persons of US nationality and their children, spouses or wives. An exception is also made for parents or legal guardians and unmarried siblings of United States residents under the age of 21 or persons of American nationality under the age of 21.
Homeland Security
According to Homeland Security, exceptions can be made for persons travelling to America in the national interest. Exceptions are made for students travelling with an F-1 or M-1 visa, for business travellers, investors, traders from countries that have concluded a treaty with the US (including the Netherlands and Belgium), academics, persons with a J -1 visa and highly qualified persons travelling for humanitarian or US public health or national security purposes.
Travellers
Travellers who wish to apply for a visa for any of the above travel purposes and believe that their purpose of travel to America is in the national interest or have some other very urgent reason for their travel should contact the Visa Department of the U.S. Embassy. Travellers who do not require a visa, but only an ESTA, whose trip to America is in the national interest or have some other urgent reason for the trip, can also apply for an exemption at the US Embassy by sending an email. Send to [email protected].
Change
Transferring in America is still available to travellers who have not been in a country on the above entry ban list in the past 14 days prior to the transfer. They can apply for an ESTA and make a bank transfer in America through the normal procedure. Travellers arriving in the state of Massachusetts or New York must complete a health form online prior to arrival.
If the US Immigration Department suspects that a traveler is not complying with the entry ban, their ESTA will be canceled. As soon as the traveler complies with the rules again, an ESTA can be applied for again. In exceptional cases, ESTAs can be incorrectly canceled. This occurs if the airline has not correctly informed the US Immigration Department that a resident of one of the above countries has not been here for at least 14 days. Has your ESTA been accidentally canceled? Then contact your airline, explain that you are not subject to the entry ban and ask the airline to inform the RCLG.
It is not known when business trips and vacations based on an ESTA from the Netherlands and Belgium to America will start again. The current entry ban applies for an indefinite period. The American embassy reported on June 23 that the entry ban for America would be extended until the end of this year. However, this information turned out to be incorrect and has since been amended. European tourists may still be able to travel to America this year. Other measures may follow that affect travel to America with an ESTA. Keep an eye on this page in the coming weeks to keep up to date with developments.
There are currently no exit restrictions for travellers who want to travel from America to the Netherlands. However, travellers returning to the Netherlands from the US are strongly recommended to go into home quarantine for 10 days. Travellers who are still in America are advised to take some precautions to reduce the chance of corona contamination. In principle, the same recommendations apply for this as that the RIVM uses for Dutch nationals in their own country. In addition, the advice of the local governments, which varies per American state, applies. In any case, observe the following guidelines to reduce the risk of corona contamination:
Travellers who are unable to leave America on time (for example, due to current travel restrictions, illness, or flight cancellations) and whose ESTA is about to expire, can apply for an extension to stay in America for 30 days longer. To do this, you must contact the US Immigration Service (a US Citizenship and Immigration Services Contact Center), one of the airports or border posts or one of the so-called Deferred Inspection Sites.
An awarded ESTA for America remains valid, despite the corona measures. Granted, travel permits and visas can never be claimed, even if they cannot be used. Many Dutch people use travel insurance and cancellation insurance. It is currently not clear whether they will compensate for the damage caused by the corona. Many insurers make use of the force majeure clause in many insurance policies. Because the financial ramifications of corona are so great, many insurers don’t have enough liquidity to fund all flight, hotel and unused ESTA claims for America.
This article on the impact of corona on ESTA travel has been carefully compiled based on available information; nevertheless, no rights can be derived from this. Given the rate at which corona spreads, it cannot be guaranteed that this article will always contain the most current information.
Transferring in America is only allowed if you have an ESTA, visa or US passport. When you check in on your flight to America, your passport number will be used to check whether you meet this requirement.
An ESTA is easier to apply for than a visa. To apply for a visa, you must make an appointment at a US consulate. The costs of a visa are also higher. The application process for an ESTA, on the other hand, is simple and fast online. An ESTA is therefore the obvious choice for a switch in America.
The validity period of an ESTA is 2 years, unless the passport with which it was applied for loses its validity earlier. It is therefore possible to use an ESTA multiple times for a transfer in America. Only one arrival date needs to be entered in the application form. Nevertheless, it is not necessary or even impossible to communicate additional or changed arrival dates. Only after the ESTA or the passport to which the ESTA is linked has expired. A new application must be made to travel to America again for a transfer or other purpose.
The application form asks if you are only traveling to America for a transfer. If you answer in the affirmative, you do not need to enter a place of residence in America. Nevertheless, after approval you will receive the same travel authorization as if you had indicated that you had resided in America. Therefore, even with an ESTA specifically applied for for a wire transfer, you may stay in the United States of America for 90 consecutive days for a vacation or business trip. However, every trip must meet the conditions for the use of an ESTA.
Based on the above, it can be concluded that it is also permitted to leave the airport prematurely during the transfer in America. The ESTA is valid for a maximum stay of 90 days. However, keep in mind that your airline and the airport where you are transferring may also have restrictions. If you want to be sure that it is possible to leave the airport in the meantime, it is wise to check with the airline.
Sometimes confusion arises between a transfer and a transit flight. A transfer means: you get off the plane in America and continue your journey on another plane. A transit flight means: you land in America, wait on or off the plane and then fly in the same plane to your final destination. An ESTA, visa or US passport is required for both a transfer and transit flight.
All conditions on this page must be met to travel to America with an ESTA. Dutch and Belgian tourists and business travelers usually meet all ESTA conditions, but it is wise to read this page carefully.
The following travel destinations do meet the conditions of an ESTA:
The following travel destinations do not meet the requirements of an ESTA:
The following ESTA conditions pertain to the planning of the trip to America:
To be eligible for an ESTA, the traveller must have the Netherlands, Belgium or one of these other countries. In the following cases, the conditions to travel with an ESTA are not met and a visa is required to travel to the United States of America.
Travellers to the United States on the basis of an ESTA must indicate using the ESTA form that:
Travelers with a valid US or Canadian passport, visa or US residency card are excluded from the above ESTA requirements. For travelers entering the United States by land, not by ship or air, an ESTA application is not required, but is recommended to pass through passport control more quickly. Even during their stay in the United States, they must meet all the conditions on this page. Travelers who do not have a passport issued by a country participating in the Visa Waiver Program, but have a residence permit in one of the participating countries, do not meet ESTA requirements and are only allowed to travel with a visa.
Do you not meet all the conditions to travel with an ESTA? Then you may not use the ESTA form on this website. To still travel to America, an American visa is required.
Dan moet u een ESTA of een visum voor Amerika aanvragen.
Then you must apply for an ESTA or a visa for America.
Only US or Canadian nationals travelers are not required. This obligation also applies if you only switch in America. In many cases, it is not necessary to apply for a visa for America. Dutch, Belgians and most other European citizens can use an ESTA. Applying for an ESTA saves money, time and effort compared to a US visa application.
Are you unable to apply for an ESTA? Then choose a US visa. Keep in mind that visa approval with an ESTA does not mean you have guaranteed entry into America. Upon arrival, the immigration service has the right to exclude you without giving any reason. This will occur if you are suspected of posing a threat to security or if you are acting in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act § 212. To this end, regular random checks are carried out by interviewing travelers upon arrival in America.
US visas can be divided into two main categories: non-immigration visas and immigration visas. Non-immigrant visas are visas where the purpose of the trip is to travel to America temporarily for tourism, business, work, or study. Immigration visas are visas intended for people who want to emigrate to America.
B1 business visa for the US where:
1. You want to consult or negotiate with business relations
2. You want to attend an educational, scientific, or business convention or conference
B2 American tourists and private visa where:
– You want to go on vacation to the US.
– You want to visit family or friends.
But also if:
1. For medical treatment
2. Participate in musical and/or sporting events or competitions
3. Take a short recreational course (for example, a two-day cooking class while on vacation in the US)
A temporary visa for business and tourism. This is a combination of visa B1 and visa B2.
This visa is issued to representatives of foreign governments to travel to the United States to participate in the official activities of that government. Thus, this type of visa can be issued to diplomats and foreign officials.
This visa is issued to travellers who resume transit immediately upon arrival in the United States. This is a visa required for transit.
This visa is issued to the crew members of seagoing vessels and international airlines entering America. Thus, this type of visa can be issued to pilots, flight attendants, captains, engineers, sailors or service personnel on board ships.
This visa is issued to individuals who work in international trading companies, provide services to investors, or make substantial investments in US companies. This could be, for example, investors or traders who want to travel to America.
This visa is issued to diplomats, officials and employees who already work for international organizations in the United States. This type of visa can be issued to the members and/or family members of this target group.
This visa is issued to representatives of the foreign media. Therefore, this type of visa can be issued to members of the press (such as radio, television, or written press journalists), film, or other media to temporarily practice their profession in the United States.
This visa is issued to the fiancé of a US citizen. A non-American can still travel to the United States on a K-1 visa. However, he / she must be married or fully settled in the United States within 90 days of entry. The K-2 visa is issued to unmarried children under the age of 21.
This visa is issued to religious workers who wish to stay in the US temporarily. They must be members of a religious association or a non-profit organization. This non-profit organization must be located in the United States for more than 2 years. Family members may also qualify for this visa (R-2 visa).
This visa is issued to witnesses or informers who assist with law enforcement. Up to 200 such visas are issued annually, which require a law enforcement agency to apply for this visa.
This visa is issued to Canadians and Mexicans who have any occupation or qualification on the NAFTA list. In addition, they must have at least a bachelor’s degree and work at a predetermined workplace.
This visa is generally issued to victims (and their close relatives) of crimes who have been mentally or physically abused and who are willing to assist law enforcement or government officials in tracking down criminals.
This visa is issued to spouses and minor children of US residents with permanent residency. For example, residents with permanent residency can bring their families partially to America to reunite with their families.
This visa is issued to international students enrolled in a recognized US institution. In addition to the students themselves, their spouses and children can also travel to America on the basis of this visa.
This visa is issued to employees who wish to temporarily stay in the US to work. This visa allows individuals with specialized professions to travel to America.
This visa is issued to employees (such as au pairs) and students who want to use an exchange program. The purpose of the law under which this visa is governed is to increase mutual understanding between Americans and people from other countries, through educational and cultural exchanges.
This visa is issued to a company located in both the employee’s home country and the United States. To be eligible for the L visa, the applicant must have been employed by the relevant company for at least one year. The L visa is valid for up to seven years, both for the applicant and for their spouse and children.
This visa is issued to students who wish to take classes in vocational and/or technical education. Spouses and children of these persons can also travel to America on the basis of this visa.
This visa is issued to persons of exceptional ability in science, art, education, business or sports. These individuals must demonstrate that they have a proven track record and that the work is temporary.
This visa is issued to athletes, entertainers, artists or members who are members of the team that supports these individuals in their activities.
This visa is issued to participants in an international cultural exchange program.
To find out the requirements for your application, simply place an application online on our website.
These are the requirements that generally must be met for an America visa. The requirements for the visa may differ per situation.
In addition to the above types of visas, there is also the “Green Card Lottery”. Simply put, this is a lottery where you can win a visa for America. This lottery is organized on behalf of the US Congress, with 50,000 visas being raffled annually among random participants from pre-qualified countries (such as the Netherlands and Belgium). It is estimated that 10 to 20 million people participate in this lottery every year; therefore winning is minimal.
It is essential to find out which visa exactly applies to your situation. In addition to the visas from the above three overviews, there are other visas. In total there are more than 185 different visas. If you do not choose the right visa, it will have major consequences. When applying for the visa, all documents must be sent to the consulate. If the diplomat thinks you need a different visa, you will be notified by email, which will need to be adjusted and other documents provided.
An error with an ESTA is of course different, so read the above carefully if you can travel with an ESTA.
Do you have a visa for America and are you traveling with the specific travel purpose for which that visa was granted? Then you do not need to apply for an ESTA. Do you have a visa, but do you want to travel to America for a different purpose than the issued visa? Then you still have to apply for an ESTA (or other types of visa).
The rules, conditions and requirements regarding visas in the United States are constantly changing. This is why it is important that you also carefully check the websites of the US government and the US embassy to make sure you are starting to apply for the correct visa. When in doubt, it is best to contact the US consulate or embassy.
In principle, you will not notice all the strict requirements to enter the country at the airport of departure. Are you traveling to the east coast? Then you may have a kind of interview with an officer at a standing table before you are allowed to board the plane. This can be done in both Dutch and English. Here, questions are mainly asked about the purpose of your trip and your luggage. However, we have only seen this on flights to the east coast and not to the west coast. You will do this “interview” alone. In principle, your travel partner is not there (unless you are traveling with children or otherwise need help).
On the plane you will receive a white/blue form from the US Customs. Each passenger must complete this form. Make sure you have a pen with you as it is not included with every flight. On the note, you have to answer several questions regarding what you are bringing into the country. This includes foods, but also large amounts of cash, for example. Fill in this note honestly. Otherwise, you can sometimes get into a lot of trouble with customs! If you are married and/or you are travelling with your family, you can fill in one form per family or couple.
Unfortunately, the United States Customs Service is not known for its friendliness and hospitality. Nevertheless, it does matter to each customs officer how many questions you have to answer and how quickly they let you through. The ESTA does not guarantee that you will enter the country, even if it is often thought of. As soon as the plane has landed you will automatically end up at Immigrations. People with a US passport report to the counters of US citizens. All other people report to the other counters. That actually always means: connecting to the longest row. The lines at Immigrations can be very long, so it is always recommended to have a transfer of at least two hours. You have to imagine that if two or three large Boeing 747s land around the same time, about 1,000 people will have to be assessed by customs at the same time. This sometimes leads to long waiting times.
The longest time we’ve waited at Immigrations? Almost three hours… Tip: sit in the front of the plane as much as possible. You are then one of the first to leave the plane and therefore faster in the front! You only pick up your suitcase after immigration, even if you have a transfer. There is nothing else to see in the room, and it’s nothing more than waiting, waiting, waiting … Your phone is not allowed and taking pictures is strictly prohibited. When it is your turn, you will be beckoned by the customs officer. Sometimes you are allowed with your travel partner, and sometimes you are not, that is not very clear and is often at customs. You hand in your passport with the US customs form and brace yourself for a few tough questions from an almost always gruff-looking man (with a few exceptions). Just answer honestly, unless you plan on working on your ESTA there, haha, you better not do that!
The customs officer is particularly interested in your plans, how you will pay for them, where you will spend the night, what you (not) do and especially: when you leave the country again. This all goes a bit between nose and lips and not very friendly. People often want to know what your profession is in the Netherlands, so make sure you know what it is called in English! They don’t want to know what color underpants you are wearing … In the meantime, you are captured on almost all sides via the webcam, prints are made of all your fingers, and you can then continue. Regardless, the customs procedure always results in sweaty sessions.
Deze hele procedure geldt ook voor mensen die overstappen naar een Amerikaanse luchthaven maar uiteindelijk naar een bestemming buiten Amerika gaan (zoals Zuid-Amerika). Vermijd dus zoveel mogelijk een overboeking in Amerika als het niet nodig is!
Office address:
Anna Paulownastraat 63
2518 BC The Hague
The Netherlands
Business hours:
Monday – Friday 9:00 – 17:00
Contact us:
Tel +31(0)6-393 39 184
Tel +31(0)70 215 49 95
[email protected]
