No More Paper I94 for ESTA Travelers: Streamlining US Entry Process

I-94 Form Elimination is Underway. To enter the United States at a land border crossing, travelers from one of the VWP (Visa Waiver Program) nations have had to complete a paper I-94 form and pay the required fee for the past seven years.

The ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization), which has up until now only been necessary for non-citizens who entered the country by air or sea, will take the place of this requirement as of May 2, 2022.

Although CBP (Customs and Border Control) has the final say on whether a tourist can enter the country, ESTA offers a kind of “pre-approval.”

The main modification is that this system has been enhanced to include land crossings. The objective is to increase entrance processing efficiency, improve national security through improved traveler screening, and provide a more up-to-date and uniform VWP admission policy at land border crossings. The CBP and VWP travelers will both save money and time with the new method.

The ESTA rules for land crossings will henceforth be the same as they have been for sea and air borders, with one significant exception. While visitors from VWP nations arriving by sea or air must get an approved ESTA. Travelers must provide their sea or air carriers with the relevant information before they can board the ship or plane.

Land-based tourists (usually in personal automobiles) will only need to obtain ESTA authorization before presenting themselves to the Canadian Border Patrol.

The Visa Waiver Program: What Is It?

• The VWP, or Visa Waiver Program, enables qualifying nationals of 40 countries worldwide.  Using this anyone can travel to the United States for tourism or business. They can stay in the USA without a visa for up to 90 days. 
• After arriving in the U.S., visitors who entered under the VWP program often cannot modify their status or lengthen their stay.
• The right to travel under the VWP will forfeited. Those who stay in the U.S. for an extended period risk facing additional penalties under U.S. law.

The Value of Early Application

Suppose a visitor from a VWP nation arrives at a land border crossing in the United States without having obtained a legal travel authorization but chooses to do so. In that case, they will permitted to revoke their entry request.

 After that, the person must travel back to Canada or Mexico and apply for an ESTA there. Before returning to the port of entry into the United States. They will have to stay there until they are given travel authorization.

A valid ESTA can be used for several entries and is usually valid for two (2) years. 

People who already have an approved ESTA can use it to apply for entry into the U.S.

They do not have to reapply for one when they arrive at a land border crossing in the United States.

The applicant will no longer be eligible to seek admission to the United States through the Visa Waiver Program. If the ESTA application is denied. Instead, he or she must go to a US consulate abroad. Then apply for a non-immigrant B visa before reapplying for US entrance.

PLEASE NOTE: If Canadian nationals wish to visit the United States by sea or air. Neither a visa nor an ESTA application is necessary. Land border crossings will now be subject to a similar exception.

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US Visa Online is an automated system that verifies the eligibility of travellers for travelling to the USA under the governance of the Visa Waiver Program. Learn more at US Visa Online.