ESTA is an electronic program that regulates the eligibility of applicants to travel to the United States without a visa. It is known as the Electronic System for Travel Authorization. It is the main prerequisite of the Visa Waiver Program, and those applicants who do have not valid ESTA cannot visit the United States even if they accomplish all the other required protocols of the VWP. The US Department of Homeland Security led this system in 2009 to make travel to foreign countries more safe and issue authorizations much sooner.

Through ESTA, the candidate can stay in the US for a maximum of 90 days. It is not a visa and cannot be used instead of a visa. It will only permit you to use it for business, travel, and tourism purposes. The citizens of Turks and Caicos Turks also required Electronic Travel Authorization (ESTA) to get entry into the United States. The candidate is not obligated to be present when applying for US online e-visa. You can find US visa exemptions. In this blog, details about the requirements for US tourist visas for the citizens of Turks and Caicos are given in detail. Read the below information to comprehend the requirements and procedure.

Read more about: Requirements for US Tourist Visa for the Citizens of Sint Maarten

ESTA Visa Conditions for the Citizens of Turks and Caicos

To be eligible for the ESTA, you must accomplish its requirements. You are permitted to apply for these travel authorization documents if you:

• Under the Visa Waiver Program, qualifying country residents are required to apply no later than 72 hours before withdrawal for ESTA.
• Suppose an applicant is found to have stayed in a country nominated as a Government Sponsor of Terrorism. In that case, the tourist will no longer be eligible to participate in the Visa Wavier Program and must apply for a new visa to enter the United States.

US Tourist Visa Requirements

Credentials required for a US tourist visa from the Turks and Caicos Islands include all old and new passports, a visa application printed form, and other primary documents. A total of three documents are important for the application that are given below.

1- Visa Application Form

Go to the website and first complete the online application form for US tourism. Provide all the information accurately. After completion, print the application form to compile in the document file.

2- Passport Photo

The photo is also required for the visa application that not must be older than six months.

3- Passport

The original Travel document of the country is also required for the application. Without a visa, you cannot obtain a US visa. The passport must have six months remaining validity on the date of visit and have a minimum of two visa pages clear of any markings.

How to Apply for ESTA?  

Here are the few steps that you must follow to obtain an ESTA:

• Complete the ESTA form
• Submit the essential documents
• Make your payment
• Wait for the visa application processing time

Complete the ESTA form

The first step is to complete the ESTA form on the website of Customs and Borders Protection. It will ask for your info and passport identification numbers. The following data is required:

• Your name and last name
• Parent information
• Citizenship
• Contact information
• Employment information

Submit the Essential Documents

For the application of ESTA, you must require the following documents:

• A legal e-passport for six more months after your planned departure from the US.
• Valid payment method (American Express, VISA, MasterCard, Discover, or PayPal).
• All other supporting documents.

Note: After you enter your data and complete all the phases, you must wait for the application to be administered.

Pay the ESTA Fees

To apply for the ESTA, you must have to pay the fee. The total ESTA price is $21 per candidate. The fee is divided into two parts that is given below:

• Processing fee is $4 per candidate and is charged to anyone who wants to apply for the ESTA.
• Authorization fee is $17 per applicant and it will be charged in that case if they want to obtain approval of ESTA.
• In case of ESTA denial, then the applicant must pay $4.
• The payment methods are different but the system accepts only credit cards and PayPal. So, make sure that the applicant must have one of these options to pay the dues.

Processing Time and Validity of ESTA

In most situations, if your data does not reveal previous criminal history or any potential security threats, you will get a response within 72 hours. If your ESTA gets approval after application, it will either be valid for two years or until your travel document expires. The ESTA will be valid until a fixed date in case your passport expires.