How to enter the US as a Hungarian citizen in case of a travel of 90 days or less? Important Update Effective August 1, 2023
Hungarian Citizens born in Hungary, who hold a Hungarian passport, may apply for admission to the United States using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) for the purpose of tourism or business travel to the US for 90 days or less. This grants them under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) visa free travel. Hungarian citizens born in Hungary can obtain travel authorization through the ESTA online process and the request is processed within 72 hours after submitting an application.
Please note that for travelling under the VWP, in addition to being born in Hungary and holding a Hungarian passport, you must also meet the following requirements:
- Holding a return or onward ticket to his or her country of residence
- The traveler has complied with the conditions of previous admissions to the United States and has not been found ineligible for a U.S. visa.
- The traveler has a valid ESTA authorization.
As it was previously stated, Hungarian citizens born outside Hungary are NOT eligible for ESTA travel, they must apply for a visa. Please note that the visa application process including a personal interview can take several months. For more information, please click here.
Changes effective from August 1: the ESTA validity period for travel by Hungarian passport holders has been reduced from two years to one year. Additionally, the validity of an ESTA permit for Hungarian passport holders will be limited to a single use. For more information, please visit the US Embassy’s VWP info page.
Q&A
What if I’m eligible for ESTA but want to travel to the US multiple times within a year?
Requesting a non-immigrant visa is the best option for travelers who expect to enter the U.S. on multiple occasions within a single year. To apply for a non-immigrant visa please visit the US visa portal. Please note that expedited visa services are not available for these applications.
Please also note that based on our information from the US Embassy, wait times for visa interviews can reach up to 6 months, therefore applicants should make an appointment well in advance.
A travel with ESTA can be completed while the applicant is waiting for the visa appointment.
Can I apply for a new ESTA multiple times or during the same year?
You may apply for a new ESTA before or after a previous one has expired. There are no restrictions on the number of times you can obtain a new ESTA authorization which is valid for one year from the date of issue.. For more information, please visit the Official ESTA Website.
IMPORTANT! When you reapply, your previous ESTA application will be cancelled.
While you may apply for a new ESTA even before your current one expires, your previous ESTA application will be canceled once the new application is started. It is not possible to recover a canceled ESTA application. When you reapply, you will be assigned a new ESTA expiration date. Make sure to take this into account when reapplying for a new ESTA authorization. For more information, please visit the Official ESTA Website .
What if my ESTA expires while I’m in the US?
The expiration date for your ESTA authorization should not interfere with your stay in the US. If your ESTA was valid at the time of entry but will expire before you leave the country, you will not have to apply for ESTA again before your departure. The same applies when changing to connecting flights in the U.S.; there is no cause for concern as long as your ESTA is valid at the time of changing flights. For more information, please visit the Official ESTA Website.
How long does US travel authorization with ESTA take?
The processing of an ESTA can take up to 72 hours. (It is also advisable to check the status of an already approved ESTA in advance of traveling to make sure that it is still valid). For more information, please visit the Official ESTA Website.
How much does an ESTA request cost?
All applicants requesting an ESTA will be charged for the processing of the application. Please note that travelers from VWP countries must pay a fee of $21.00. For more information, please visit the Official ESTA Website.
Is there any difference/facilitation in getting a travel authorization if I am travelling for business?
Up to 90 days of travel you need to follow the same travel authorization procedure regardless of whether you are travelling for tourism or business.
How can I get back to the US if I want to take a day trip to Canada or Mexico during my stay in the US?
By regulation [8 CFR 217.3(b)] VWP applicants may be readmitted to the United States after a departure to foreign contiguous territory or adjacent island for the balance of the original VWP admission period if otherwise admissible and meets all other program conditions with the exception of arrival on a signatory carrier
§ 217.3 Maintenance of status.
(a) Satisfactory departure. If an emergency prevents an alien admitted under this part from departing from the United States within his or her period of authorized stay, the district director having jurisdiction over the place of the alien's temporary stay may, in his or her discretion, grant a period of satisfactory departure not to exceed 30 days. If departure is accomplished during that period, the alien is to be regarded as having satisfactorily accomplished the visit without overstaying the allotted time.
(b) Readmission after departure to contiguous territory or adjacent island. An alien admitted to the United States under this part may be readmitted to the United States after a departure to foreign contiguous territory or adjacent island for the balance of his or her original Visa Waiver Pilot Program admission period if he or she is otherwise admissible and meets all the conditions of this part with the exception of arrival on a signatory carrier.
For more information, please contact the CBP Information Center.
Another important detail concerning carriers! In order to facilitate the arrival of VWP passengers, carriers need to be signatory to a current agreement with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). A carrier is required to be signatory to an agreement in order to transport aliens seeking admission as nonimmigrant visitors under the VWP. The carriers listed here are currently signatory to the VWP and can transport passengers under the program.
What to do in case of a travel to the US of more than 90 days?
The purpose of your intended travel and other facts will determine what type of visa is required under U.S. immigration law. As a visa applicant, you will need to establish that you meet all requirements to receive the category of visa for which you are applying.
Main types:
- Nonimmigrant Visas: Travel to the United States on a temporary basis, including tourism, temporary employment, study and exchange.
- Immigrant Visas: For foreign citizens who want to live permanently in the United States.
Find here more information.
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