ESTA Resources

China vows to protect the rights of Chinese journalists based on the United States At a time of heightening tensions between the United States and the People's Republic of China, the United States has delayed renewing Chinese reporters' visas. Now, the Chinese government has vowed to protect the interests and rights of Chinese journalists. At a news conference, Wang Wenbin, the Chinese Foreign Ministry…

Whilst most international airlines follow the same basic rules, there are differences in the details of permitted items you can take on an airplane. You should always check with your airline before you start packing because if something is detected that looks like it might be prohibited, your luggage will be opened up and searched, even if you put a lock on it. The list below is not exhaustive, but…

With a significant number of Croatian nationals living abroad, joining the visa waiver program is high on Croatian citizens' wish list. The situation is quite complicated because Bosnia and Herzegovina, a completely different country, can also issue Croatian passports. Discussions about joining the Visa Waiver Program have been ongoing for 20 years, but now, it looks like the wait is almost over. While…

The United States has many renowned landmarks that offer visitors insight into the history and culture of the country. Here are some of the landmarks travelers should consider when visiting the United States. As always, international travelers are advised to regularly check travel restrictions on their local U.S. embassy website for the latest information. The White House, Washington DC The White…

US revoking more visas of Chinese students The relationship between the United States and China continues to evolve when it comes to U.S. visas and immigration. Since June 2020, the United States government has been targeting Chinese nationals who they believe have links to the Chinese military. Under the new changes, the US State Department has revoked the visas of over 1000 Chinese graduate students…

Visa restrictions can make it harder for pregnant women to enter the United States Some recent U.S. policies have made it difficult for foreign nationals traveling to the United States during pregnancy to gain “birth right citizenship” for their child. According to figures from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 10,000 babies were born in the United States to foreign nationals…

In its attempts to slow the spread of COVID-19, the Trump administration has made numerous changes to its immigration and visa policy. Following recent changes to visa regulations for international students taking courses this fall that are now available only online, the SEVP (the Student and Exchange Visitor Program) has issued new guidelines. The Trump administration had previously banned non-immigrant…

As the COVID-19 pandemic was sweeping the world, President Trump signed proclamations 10014 and 10052 in June this year. These changes to immigration law temporarily suspended the right of entry to the US for both immigrants and non-immigrants. They were implemented because immigrant workers are seen as a risk to the recovery of the US labor market. The suspension applies specifically to those applying…

APIS is the Advance Passenger Information System, a pre-departure requirement allowing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to review passenger’s information. Passenger data undergoes security checks before they are allowed to board their flights entering or leaving the U.S. APIS is also used for commercial shipping or sailing to or from the U.S. APIS, together with Passenger Name Record (PNR)…

SEVP, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, has announced changes to the temporary exemptions for foreign students in the US who may be taking classes online during the fall semester. DHS (the Department of Homeland Security) is planning to publish the modifications as a Temporary Final Rule. Non-immigrant students have been able to pursue academic coursework with an F-1 visa while students studying…