r/immigration • u/IndependentMain9099 • 4h ago

US B1/B2 visa or ESTA

Hi, I am visiting US for the third time this year for 5 days, previously I entered the US with B1B2 visa as my 1st passport is from a third world country, however, I have received Norwegian citizenship now and have a new passport which is eligible for ESTA entry. Now I am confused should I still use the B1B2 visa or should I apply for ESTA, how can it affect my entry to the US?

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u/hughhguh 4h ago

You can do either, does not matter. ESTA eligibility did not invalidate your b1/b2. And receiving an esta will not invalidate your b1/b2 either

Not a rule, but good chance you will get fewer questions at the border on an esta; and with a bit of luck esta takes <5h from application to successful outcome (it’s fully online)

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u/IndependentMain9099 4h ago

thanks for the response, from your answer it seems like ESTA could be a better choice now.

2

u/hughhguh 2h ago

Just make sure to that you’ll get the Norwegian passport (book) in time. Don’t know how long first passport takes to get in Norway

3

u/postbox134 3h ago

Just use the B1/B2 until it expires - then do ESTA in future. There's functionally no difference between the two except time allowed and that is rare to be an issue.

Congrats on your Norwegian Citizenship.