Authorization Approved
This means that you are eligible to travel in the United States, but this does not guarantee admission to the United States as a Customs and Border Protection officer at a port of entry will have the final determination.
Travel Not Authorized
You are not allowed to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. This response does not deny entry into the United States. This response only prohibits you from traveling to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. You may be able to obtain a traditional visa from United States embassy.
Authorization Pending
This means that your travel authorization is under review because an immediate determination could not be made for your application. This answer does not indicate negative findings. A determination will usually be available within 72 hours.
- • The passport must have a machine-readable zone on the biographic page.
- • The passport must be an electronic passport with a digital chip containing biometric information about the passport owner.
- • Taiwan passport holders must provide Passport Number and Personal Identification Number (PIN).
EXCEPTION: Visa Waiver Program countries' emergency or temporary passports must be electronic passports.
New travel authorization via ESTA is required when:
- • The traveler is issued a new passport;
- • The traveler changes his or her name;
- • The traveler changes his or her gender;
- • The traveler’s country of citizenship changes;
- • The circumstances underlying the traveler’s previous responses to any of the ESTA application questions requiring a “YES” or “NO” response have changed.
Travel authorizations are granted for a two–year period or until the applicant’s passport expires, whichever is sooner. Therefore, a traveler must apply for a new ESTA when the prior ESTA approval or passport expires. The associated fee will be charged for each new application submitted.