4 ms·

ESTA is a officially a visa-waiver program that is supposed to be free. I seriously doubt that an actual visa will be as cheap.

• FabHK 10y ago
  Yup. Visa entails filling out a huge form [1], submitting it and a fee of USD 160, visiting a US consulate for an interview with an official, then getting a visa, or a rejection (with no reasons specified). [1] It's a huge form because, to quote Wikipedia, > The presumption in the law is that every nonimmigrant visa applicant (except certain employment-related applicants, who are exempt) is an intending immigrant unless otherwise proven. Therefore, applicants for most nonimmigrant visas must overcome this presumption by demonstrating that: * The purpose of their trip is to enter the U.S. for a specific, intended purpose; * They plan to remain for a specific, limited period; and * They have a residence outside the U.S. as well as other binding ties which will ensure their return at the end of their stay.