ESTA application by smartphone

21 Aug 10:19

Before applying for ESTA by smartphone

As the usage of smartphones and tablets has grown in recent years, the number of persons applying for ESTA using such devices has increased.
On the other side, many applicants who would ordinarily have been granted for ESTA authorisation without issue have had their applications placed on hold or refused as a consequence of inaccuracies while entering information through cellphones or tablets. The following notes are for people who want to apply for an ESTA using their smartphone or tablet. Especially for individuals who do not have a personal computer at home, want to save all information on one device, are more accustomed to smartphones, or for any other reason.

TRAVELING TO THE UNITED STATES?

Do You Have U.S. ESTA VISA Travel Authorization? If You Have ESTA Application, Check if it is Still Valid!

Things to prepare when applying for ESTA by smartphone

You will need the following details:

  1. A legitimate passport containing an IC chip’s passport number
  2. A credit card (not necessarily in the applicant’s name)
  3. Address, phone number, and other details about your lodgings or where you will stay
  4. Employer address, phone number, and so forth (if relevant)

① Check and write down your passport number and other important details ahead of time.② The fees for applying for an ESTA must be paid using a credit card. Even if the name on the credit card differs from the applicant’s, it has no influence on ESTA screening or payment. We recommend making a note of the details ③ and ④ before applying via smartphone or tablet because it will take some time to seek it up when filling out the application. Furthermore, because smartphones and tablets have smaller displays than PCs, it is easier to make mistakes while inputting information, and users are more likely to miss problems when reviewing the information they provided.
When applying for ESTA via smartphone or tablet, please be extremely careful not to input wrong information, and double-check your submissions to ensure that all information is correct and full.

Notes on applying by an email address from a mobile-phone carrier

  1. If your device is set to refuse email sent from PC addresses, temporarily deactivate that option.
  2. Disable any SPAM filters temporarily.

Many users’ smartphones and tablets are pre-configured to refuse email received from PC addresses and have SPAM filters active from the start. After you apply for ESTA, you will get notification of the ESTA screening findings through email from the Online Center’s PC email address. If your device is set to reject email received from PC addresses in order to prevent SPAM, please temporarily deactivate that option so that you may receive emails from PC addresses.

Change the device settings to allow you to receive emails informing you of the results of ESTA screening, and once you have received notification of the results of ESTA authorisation, you can return to rejecting emails from PC addresses.

TRAVELING TO THE UNITED STATES?

Do You Have U.S. ESTA VISA Travel Authorization? If You Have ESTA Application, Check if it is Still Valid!

Three points on applying for ESTA by smartphone

1. Be sure to complete the application at least three days prior to travel

Although you may usually examine the results of your ESTA application within three days, or 72 hours, in exceptional instances, such as when access is busy or the service is down, it may take longer. Apply for an ESTA as soon as your trip arrangements are finalized.

2. Make a note of the passport number of your valid passport in advance

When applying for an ESTA, you must provide your passport number. Without a passport number, the application cannot be completed.
Make a note of your valid passport’s passport number ahead of time.
When using a smartphone or tablet to apply, be careful not to make any mistakes when entering information and double-check all things after entering them.

3. Make a note of addresses and contact information in advance

Filling out the application while looking for locations and contact information on a smartphone or tablet may take longer than intended. Make a note of your contact information ahead of time to enable a seamless ESTA application by minimizing the time necessary and preventing incorrect submissions.
Even if you don’t have a computer, you may apply for an ESTA using your smartphone or tablet. However, doing so frequently may result in errors such as typos, inputting passport numbers with the wrong amount of digits, or typing numbers instead of letters or vice versa.
If you want to apply for an ESTA via smartphone or tablet, consider the three recommendations above and allow adequate time to apply and prepare for travel.

TRAVELING TO THE UNITED STATES?

Do You Have U.S. ESTA VISA Travel Authorization? If You Have ESTA Application, Check if it is Still Valid!