United States visa for Slovak citizens

Check the official site before you travel. imptmanhattan.com is a hotel and travel site; it does not issue visas or ESTAs and this is not legal advice. Rules change: confirm on esta.cbp.dhs.gov and travel.state.gov.

Slovakia takes part in the US Visa Waiver Program, so Slovak citizens can visit Manhattan for tourism or business for up to 90 days without a visa. An approved ESTA is still required before boarding a flight to JFK, LaGuardia or Newark. Apply on the official site, esta.cbp.dhs.gov. Travelers who cannot use the program apply for a B-2 visitor visa instead.

What the status means in practice

Slovakia is a member of the US Visa Waiver Program. A Slovak passport holder traveling to New York for tourism, family visits or business can stay for up to 90 days without a visa from an embassy. The trip must be short and temporary. Permission to board comes from an approved ESTA, not from the passport alone. It cannot be used for paid work.

The ESTA is not a visa and does not guarantee entry. A Customs and Border Protection officer at the airport makes the final decision and may ask about the purpose of the trip, the length of stay and the money available. Carry hotel details and return plans. Anyone who cannot use the program, for example after a past refusal, applies for a B-2 visitor visa instead.

Before the flight and after landing

Apply on the official site, esta.cbp.dhs.gov, well before the trip, and keep a copy of the approval. Answer every question honestly, including those about previous visits, refusals and travel history. A false answer can end the authorization and affect later trips. Check that the passport is an eligible electronic passport, since the program requires one, and that its details match the booking.

Flights from Slovakia usually land at JFK, Newark or LaGuardia. After landing, follow the signs to passport control and join the line for visitors. A Customs and Border Protection officer takes fingerprints and a photo, checks the ESTA and asks a few short questions. Expect long lines at busy times. Keep the printed approval and the hotel address within reach.

Staying in Manhattan

Have a hotel confirmation ready, on paper or on the phone, with the Manhattan address. Officers may ask where the first nights are spent and how the trip is funded. A return or onward ticket shows the plan to leave within the allowed stay. Travelers staying with friends or family can carry a short letter with that address and contact details.

Getting into the city is straightforward from all three airports. Trains, buses and official airport taxis wait at each terminal, and the ride to Midtown takes a while, so plan for it after a long flight. Subway stations and bus stops sit close together in Manhattan, and many sights are within walking distance of each other. Check the current fare and route on the airport or transit website.

Longer stays, work and study

The Visa Waiver Program covers short visits for tourism and business only. Work for a US employer, study at a university, or a stay longer than 90 days needs a different visa category, applied for in advance at a US embassy or consulate. The B-2 visitor visa covers tourism and some family visits but not employment. Rules and interview requirements change, so check travel.state.gov.

Business visitors under the program may attend meetings and conferences, but may not take up paid work in the United States. Students and people starting a job need the category that fits the purpose, arranged well ahead of the trip. Anyone unsure which category applies can read the guidance on travel.state.gov or ask the nearest US embassy in Slovakia. Entry is never guaranteed until an officer admits the traveler.

How to apply for an ESTA

1. Check that each traveler holds a Slovak electronic passport, since the Visa Waiver Program requires an eligible passport.
2. Apply on the official ESTA site, esta.cbp.dhs.gov, which is the only site needed for the application.
3. Answer the eligibility questions about citizenship, past travel, refusals and criminal history carefully, then review the form.
4. Complete the payment step on the official site and keep the confirmation with the application number.
5. Wait for the approval before booking flights, then save or print the approved ESTA.
6. Travel with the approved ESTA, the passport used in the application and the Manhattan hotel address.
7. On arrival at JFK, LaGuardia or Newark, present the passport and answer the Customs and Border Protection officer's questions.

Documents to carry

• Slovak electronic passport used in the ESTA application
• Printed or saved ESTA approval with the application number
• Hotel confirmation showing the Manhattan address and stay dates
• Return or onward ticket showing the plan to leave the United States

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