Reasons for rejection of an ESTA application, and what to do when it is rejected

20 Aug 12:00

In case your ESTA status has turned out to be “Travel not authorized”
Reasons for rejection of an ESTA application, and what to do when it is rejected

First, look into the cause for the application’s denial. It is critical to understand the content since correspondence varies based on the reasons for rejection. Unless there are any issues, an ESTA application is usually approved quite fast. Even if the application status changed to “Travel authorization pending,” it is just temporary and will be approved in the majority of situations. However, if it is determined that there are any issues with the application, the status changes to “travel authorization rejected” and travel with ESTA is not authorized. The most prevalent grounds for rejection for individuals who were denied are listed below. Check to see whether you are qualified to reapply for ESTA; otherwise, try applying for a VISA. A VISA application is handled by an embassy in Japan or a consulate general in your location.

Reasons for rejection of an ESTA application

First, look into the cause for the application’s denial. It is critical to understand the reason for rejection so that you may answer appropriately, as the manner to respond to a rejected application varies based on the reasons. Unless there are any issues, an ESTA application will usually be approved very quickly, and even if it is waiting for a long, it will be approved eventually. However, if it is determined that the application contains any flaws, it will be denied.
The most typical explanation is clicking “Yes” while answering any of the application’s questions.
By verifying applicants’ prior medical histories, arrest histories, and criminal records, the questions on the ESTA application are meant to keep out passengers who potentially constitute a threat to the United States. Answering “Yes” to even one of these questions will almost always result in an application being denied.
An application may be denied in some situations if the applicant unintentionally clicked “Yes” on a question to which he or she intended to respond “No.” When filing for an ESTA, it is critical to thoroughly verify for any erroneous or incorrect information.

The most common reasons for rejection of ESTA application

  • Only answered “Yes” to one of nine questionnaires.
  • Had major criminal records in the past and was convicted; consequently, an appeal or discussion is pending.
  • Previously, I applied for a VISA or an ESTA and was denied.
  • In the past, when visiting the United States, I overstayed.
  • In the past, I worked without a VISA and was chastised by officials when I visited the United States.
  • In the past, admittance to the United States was denied for a variety of reasons.
  • Deported in the past for various reasons after residing in the United States.
  • Lost passport in the past, but rediscovered it after reporting the loss of an object, therefore it was not renewed and was never used.
  • Having the same first and surname name as a severe criminal or someone who is wanted globally.

It is important to note that if you answer “Yes” to any one of the surveys, your ESTA application will be denied. If you choose “Yes” by accident, you can reapply. Choose the correct answer this time, and reapply for an ESTA.
The ESTA application questionnaires are designed to screen out passengers who may represent a threat to the US by verifying applicants’ arrest histories and criminal records. If your status changed to “Travel authorization rejected,” double-check your entered information and/or chosen items for errors.

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!

How to check the content of your application

Check the official ESTA website of the United States government to discover whether there were any errors in your ESTA application.
You may check the status of your application at any moment on the official ESTA website of the United States government.
Navigate to the official ESTA website’s homepage and then click on “Check Individual Status” on the right-hand side of the page. You may check the status of your application in real time by entering your application number, date of birth, and passport number.

The steps for verifying your application are outlined below.

  1. Visit the official ESTA website’s homepage.
  2. Enter your application number, date of birth, and passport number (if you don’t know your application number, enter your passport number, passport date of issue, passport expiration date, date of birth, and nationality) and then click “Retrieve Application” on the right-hand center of the page.
  3. The current status of your application will be revealed. On the right, click the “Confirm” button.
  4. Check to see if you replied “No” to all of the questions.

If your ESTA application was denied, follow the procedures above to check for errors in the substance of your application. Following confirmation of the reason for rejection, proceed to address the rejection in accordance with that rationale.

Two examples are shown below.

1.If you accidentally clicked a “Yes” to a question Contact U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to correct the application
2. If you answered “No” to all questions and cannot identify any mistakes in your entries You cannot travel to the U.S. using ESTA. Therefore, apply for a visa from a U.S. embassy.

We recommend following the actions outlined below after you have confirmed the specifics of your circumstance.

1. If you accidentally clicked a “Yes” to a question

There is no way to cancel your entry after it has been submitted. Wait at least 24 hours before applying again.
Although you must pay the application fees again if you reapply, you can replace the content of your earlier application. However, in some circumstances, it is not feasible to change or correct previously submitted information. If your application is refused again, you may contact US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and correct the application content by alerting them that there was an error in the content of your application that needed to be remedied.

2. If you answered “No” to all questions and cannot identify any mistakes in your entries

In this situation, for various reasons, certain US government information has been recorded by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which will result in the denial of your application for travel permission. Because it is not feasible to request that CBP update such information, you must apply for a visa at a U.S. consulate.
* A B1 visa is required for business travel to the United States.
* To visit the United States for sightseeing, apply for a B2 visa.
Both B1 and B2 visas are referred to as “B visas” in the following section.

Necessary things to apply for a B visa at a U.S. embassy

  1. Prepare the DS-160 online application from the US embassy website.
  2. Pay the application fee using the U.S. embassy’s online payment system (keep a copy of the receipt number).
  3. Make an interview appointment on the website of the US embassy.
  4. Prepare the appropriate paperwork and attend the interview on the scheduled day and time.
  5. Your passport will be returned to you with the visa attached about one week after the interview.

The documents required for applying at the embassy are listed below.
*Check the U.S. embassy website before applying, since the required documentation may vary depending on particular circumstances.

5. What could happen if I didn’t apply for ESTA?

To visit the continental United States, Hawaii, and other U.S. islands without a visa for up to 90 days, you must apply for ESTA.
If you do not have an ESTA, you will be unable to board your aircraft on the scheduled departure date. Even if you were permitted to board your aircraft, you may be denied admission and ordered to return to your home country during immigration screening once you arrive in the United States.
If there was no problem with the content of the application, you will get notification of ESTA application results a few days after applying for both group and individual applications. ESTA screening results may even be sent on the same day in rare situations. However, if there is a mistake in the application information for even one person of your family or group, it might result in complications such as not being allowed to enter the United States, which would spoil everyone’s vacation plans. Begin preparing for your ESTA application as soon as you have decided on your vacation itinerary. Although you are not required to apply for ESTA in order to visit Guam or the Northern Mariana Islands, we encourage that you do so since possessing ESTA can make immigration screening procedures run more easily and reduce wait times.

Necessary documents to apply for a B visa

  • Original passport (must have at least six months validity left, including the anticipated time of stay in the United States)
  • Any prior passports issued during the previous ten years
  • Application photograph (5 x 5 cm, taken within the last six months)
  • DS-160 online application confirmation form
  • Receipt proving payment of visa application fee (given with interview appointment confirmation if paying by credit card)
  • Interview appointment confirmation form for your scheduled interview
  • Documents attesting to your present employment, school, and so on.
  • Documents verifying your present financial situation, such as a bank account balance certificate
  • Documents proving your income, such as a wage slip or a tax withholding certificate
  • Documents demonstrating your vacation plans, such as a hotel room confirmation, a travel itinerary, or airline tickets
  • Documents proving that you have previously been refused entrance or a visa, if appropriate
  • Documents outlining your arrest history or criminal record, if you have one.
  • If you are a foreign national, you will need documents such as a reentry permission, a proof of residency, or an alien registration certificate.

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!

What could be the reason for refusal of entry to the U.S.?

The United States government places a high priority on preventing admission by visitors who intend to stay in the country for illegal purposes, such as unlawful residency or unlawful employment. This is why the ESTA program was created. As previously stated, the elements reviewed on ESTA applications are growing more stringent over time. As a result, visitors must establish that their presence will be useful rather than detrimental to the United States.
The ESTA application has a number of questions. The following two points are important to the US authorities in detecting situations of suspected illegal entry:

  1. Those who may represent a security risk
  2. Those that may include unlawfully seizing American citizens’ job chances

Point 1 is obviously vital in order to prevent terrorism and unlawful smuggling. However, monitoring on Point 2 has gotten increasingly stringent in recent years, and this tendency is projected to continue in the future. A traveler may be refused entry to the U.S. if he or she has ever performed work or is suspected of having done so, while it could have been done by a U.S. citizen, even for a short period of time, while visiting the U.S. without holding an employment visa. Point 2 is a concern unique to the United States as a country with a big immigrant population. It is believed that the screening mechanism for applications that may be detrimental to the US, potentially resulting to fewer job chances for US nationals, will grow further harsher in the future.

It should also be noted that a history of repeated visits to the United States over numerous years or for extended durations of time may cause an immigration officer to infer that the traveler is working in the United States for purposes other than those covered by the ESTA business-trip category. If the explanation for the issue is not clear enough to be approved, entrance to the United States may be denied.

Even if you do not have permanent residency, you must file tax returns for any income generated in the United States if you spent more than 183 days in the country during the year. If you intend to stay in the United States for an extended amount of time, plan your journey carefully to prevent any misunderstandings or problems.

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!