Every ESTA application includes a set of eligibility questions. They are asked by the US authorities, they are the same for everyone, and they are the part of the application we can never fill in for you.
What they cover
A physical or mental disorder, drug abuse or a communicable disease of public health significance
Arrest or conviction for a serious offence, whatever the outcome
Offences related to controlled substances
Involvement in terrorism, espionage, sabotage or genocide
Fraud or misrepresentation in obtaining a visa or entry
Seeking employment in the United States without authorization
A previous refusal of a visa or of entry to the United States
Having stayed longer than a previous admission allowed
Travel to certain countries, including Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, since March 2011
Why we never answer them for you
These answers are a declaration you make personally to the US authorities. We record what you tell us, and nothing else. An agent who guessed on your behalf would be making a false declaration in your name, and that is not a service anyone should offer.
If one of your answers is yes
Answer truthfully anyway. A yes does not automatically mean a refusal, and the authorities have seen every situation before. A false no, discovered later, is treated as misrepresentation and has consequences that last far longer than a refused trip.
Tell us before we file. Depending on the situation, the right advice may be to apply for a visa instead, where your circumstances can be explained properly to a consular officer. We would rather tell you that than take your money for an application that cannot succeed.
If you are not sure how to answer
Some questions are broader than they look, particularly the ones about arrests and about travel to the listed countries. If you are unsure whether something applies to you, ask us before answering. We will tell you what the question covers, but the answer stays yours.
After you have answered
Your answers are carried into the official application exactly as you gave them. If you realise you made a mistake, tell us immediately: before filing we can correct it, and afterwards we cannot.