Citizens of 35 countries have the right to visit the United States without a visa.
Guests of America who do not comply with this requirement or do not receive approval for entry will not be allowed into the country. According to the new procedure, the online form must be completed at least 72 hours before departure. Representatives of the US authorities claim that in the vast majority of cases, a response will be received within a few seconds.
The 'Electronic System for Travel Authorization' (ESTA) was developed by the US Department of Homeland Security. In response to a request, the system can issue three possible responses: approval, denial, or pending. If a user receives a denial, they can apply for permission at the US consulate. A pending decision means that the user needs to return to the website after some time to check the status of the application.
The authorization system is free for visitors, and the received entry authorization is valid for two years.
As Lenta.ru notes, in connection with the introduction of the new procedure, many countries expect a worsening of the situation at airports, since security services will now have to monitor compliance with the new rules and not allow passengers who have not completed the authorization procedure onto planes. There are also concerns that many travelers may not have known about the change in the procedure for visiting the US, and as a result, their trips may not take place.