Understanding Issuing Country Field in ESTA US Visa Application
Every traveler is required to have a Passport to be able to apply for ESTA US Visa Application. However, some travelers may need help filling out the ESTA application forms, particularly with the portion where you must mention the Issuing Country field. This article seeks to shed light on the subject.
Which is the Issuing Country field in the the Passport?
Most Immigration agencies define the country of the issue as the country or nation which issued you the Passport or Travel Document. This refers to your country of your citizenship. Issuing Country is not where you are physically located at the time of issuance of Passport but your country of citizenship.
For instance, if you are a French citizen living in Switzerland and applying for a passport, you must choose the France (FRA) as your Issuing Country because you will be picking it up at the French consulate in Switzerland. This is one of the issues that applicants face during the registration procedure.
Is Issuing Country different from Country of Citizenship / Nationality?
In almost all cases, an Ordinary Passport or Standard Passport has same value for Issuing Country and Nationality. However, in rare circumstances they could be different. Example - German Blue passport aka Refugee Passport has Issuing Country as Germany (D) but nationality could be Zambian. In this case, you are not eligible for ESTA US Visa.
Issuing Country is three (3) letter country code
Nationality here is UTOPIAN
What Should You Do If You Have Dual Citizenship?
Prior to concentrating on Dual Citizenship, it is common for the country of issuance to be missing; consequently, applying for the ESTA is not recommended in that case.
The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is an automated system that identifies and validates travelers' eligibility to visit the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. It implies that it applies to residents of nations that participate in the Visa Waiver Program; as a result, they are automatically qualified for ESTA.
If you have Dual Citizenship and are enrolled with ESTA, you should utilize the VWP when traveling and onboard. It is essential because it will be examined upon your arrival.
If you hold citizenship in both countries and are qualified for the VWP, you should choose a single country to use for travel to the United States, and that country's passport can be used each time you travel.
Should I apply for ESTA if I am a Dual US Citizen?
You should avoid filing for an ESTA if you are a US citizen and and also a VWP member on second Passport. One of the criteria for becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen is to apply for and use a U.S. passport for travel.
Several situations have emerged in which persons with dual citizenship utilize their nation of issue as travel passports; nevertheless, it is recommended that the United States passport be used on arrival and departure from the U.S. and the other country.
If you need to go to the United States for an emergency and are unable to obtain a United States passport, you must apply through ESTA if you have a VWP-qualifying passport. Nonetheless, you must use the non-resident queue upon arriving and provide a foreign passport for admittance.
Understanding the issuing country is critical in the passport application procedure. An individual's native country will help them determine whether they are ESTA eligible or members of VWP countries. Understanding these two variables will make your trip less stressful.
