Czechs and Visa Waiver: Lots of Interest

January 22, 2009

For more than two months, Czechs have been able to travel to the United States without visas for business or tourism for as long as 90 days by using the Electronic System of Travel Authorization (ESTA). 

According to Consul General Stuart Hatcher, more than 6000 Czechs have applied for ESTA authorization since November 17, 2008 when the Czech Republic joined the U.S. Visa Waiver program:  “That is about twice as many people as applied for visas during the same period last year.“

Hatcher considers the new system a big success, citing the fact that “almost all applications are approved”—the overwhelming majority of them almost immediately.

Thus far, U.S. authorities have noticed no major problems.  On the rare occasion issues do arise, it is typically because people travelling to the U.S. using ESTA forget to confirm they have biometric passports, which the Czech Republic has issued since September 2006.  (Biometric passports have a hard plastic page containing the passport holder’s data as well as a distinctive gold-colored chip logo on their front covers.) 

U.S. Immigration officers have denied entry to several Czech visitors who inaccurately answered questions on the ESTA form about their previous stays in the U.S. (mainly concerning overstaying their admission periods, being deported, etc.). 

Consuls are often asked whether children listed in their parents’ passports also need to apply for ESTA authorization.  Every visa-free traveler to the U.S. must have his/her own authorization and his/her own biometric passport.

Another common misconception is that ESTA applicants will receive an e-mail approval notice.  ESTA authorization is given in the ESTA website, not via a separate e-mail.