ESTA Question

Question

I'm a UK passport holder and thinking of a summer trip to Mexico City and Los Angeles.

The first stop will be Mexico City and almost all the flights I'm checking include a short layover at a US airport. After a few days in Mexico City, I'll be flying directly to LA.

So the first leg of my travel involves transiting in the USA to another country and the second leg involves flying directly to LA.

Based on this information, when completing the ESTA form, should I answer Yes or NO to the following question: 'Is your travel to the US occurring in transit to another country?'

Although I will be transiting through the US en route to Mexico City, my final destination will be the US (when I travel from Mexico City to LA), so I wasn't sure what to put on the form.

Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks

Answer

When filling out the ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) form, the question “Is your travel to the US occurring in transit to another country?” refers specifically to the trip for which you are seeking ESTA approval. It is intended to determine if your entry to the United States is only as a stopover en route to a different country and not for visiting the US itself.

In your case:

For your first flight from the UK to Mexico City that has a short US layover, you are technically “transiting” through the US. So, if you were completing an ESTA only for that flight, the answer would be Yes because your stay in the US is limited to a layover and your ultimate destination is Mexico.
However, for your second trip from Mexico City to Los Angeles, you are entering the US as your actual destination. For this leg, the answer to the same question would be No, because the US is the country you are intending to visit.

Important points to keep in mind:

You must have a valid ESTA if you plan to transit through the US on your way to Mexico, even if only for a layover, because all foreign nationals (from Visa Waiver Program countries like the UK) need clearance to enter a US airport.
When you later fly from Mexico City to LA, that is a normal visit to the US, and you must indicate that your travel is not in transit to another country.
In practice, ESTA is typically valid for multiple entries within its 2-year validity period. So, you can use the same ESTA for both your transit to Mexico and your visit to LA.

Summary:

First leg (UK → US layover → Mexico City): answer Yes to the “in transit” question.
Second leg (Mexico City → LA): answer No because the US is your destination.

So your ESTA form itself can cover both trips if you select multiple-entry authorization, but you must correctly indicate your purpose for each entry at the time of travel. Always carry printed travel itineraries and have ESTA approval ready in case airline or immigration staff ask.

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