Short answer
No. iVisa is not the official ESTA website. The official application is operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at esta.cbp.dhs.gov.
ESTA is a travel authorization for eligible Visa Waiver Program travelers. It is not a visa. VWP travelers need it for air, sea, and land entry.
The price test
An approved ESTA costs USD $40.27 on the CBP site:
- $4.00 processing fee when the application is submitted.
- $36.27 authorization fee only after approval.
If CBP refuses the application, only the $4.00 processing fee is charged. The official total rose from $21.00 to $40.27 on September 30, 2025.
Commercial prices observed on July 13, 2026 were $109.99 at iVisa, from $129 at esta.global, and $140 at travelusaesta.com. Those totals include at least $69.72 to $99.73 above the official approved total.
Documented commercial ESTA sites
The cards below reproduce the price evidence recorded in data/official_urls/usa.toml. These companies may sell application assistance. They are not CBP.
Observed 2026-07-13: the iVisa United States page advertised ESTA prices starting from USD $109.99. The official ESTA site displayed USD $40.27, so the advertised starting total was USD $69.72 higher.
Observed 2026-07-13: the application page stated 'Total price from $129 per applicant' including the government fee and its service fee. The official ESTA site displayed USD $40.27, a difference of at least USD $88.73.
Observed 2026-07-13: the terms page listed USD $140 per application, including the government fee, for ESTA submission support. The official ESTA site displayed USD $40.27, a difference of USD $99.73.
What a middleman may do
A paid service may submit the same official form for you and keep the markup. The resulting ESTA can still be real. The extra charge is not a CBP fee, and a service cannot improve the approval decision.
It may also use its own email address or keep your application number. If you already paid, check your application on the official CBP site with your passport details. Save the status and application number yourself before paying anyone again.
Four checks before you enter passport data
- Host: the official application host is exactly
esta.cbp.dhs.gov. - Fee: an approved application totals USD $40.27, not $109.99, $129, or $140.
- Timing: apply no later than 72 hours before departure. A paid rush label cannot make CBP decide faster.
- Control: use your own email and keep your own application number.
An approval is generally valid for 2 years or until passport expiry, whichever comes first. Brunei passport holders receive 1-year ESTA validity. Approval does not guarantee admission to the United States.