U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) updated the Electronic
System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) website
on August 5, 2019. According to a notice posted on the ESTA
homepage at the time of the update, all ESTA applications pending
payment status were to be archived during the update. The notice,
which has since been removed, indicated that affected applicants
must reapply for ESTA (at least 72 hours prior to traveling to the
United States). Applicants may check the status of their individual
ESTA applications on the CBP's application portal.
ESTA is an online system used to determine whether a traveler is
eligible to travel to the United States under the
Visa Waiver Program, which allows nationals of 38 countries to
travel or be admitted to the United States without a visa.
Travelers are encouraged to apply for ESTA authorization as soon as
they book their travel plans but in no case later than 72 hours
before departure to the United States. ESTA approvals are
