Up to 90 days per entry with a valid ESTA. The binding date is the one on the I-94 record CBP creates when you arrive.
Travel days in the USA: 90 days per entry
The Visa Waiver Program covers stays of up to 90 days for tourism or business. It cannot be extended. If you want longer, you need a visa before you travel.
The I-94 is the actual record
The ESTA is your travel authorisation; the I-94 is your admission record. It states how long you may stay, and that date governs. You can pull it free of charge at i94.cbp.dhs.gov, and it is worth a look after landing.
Travel days in the USA and short hops
A trip to Mexico or Canada and back usually does not reset the clock. CBP counts those neighbouring visits against the stay you are already on. Plan them inside the 90 days rather than as a fresh start.
Leave time between visits
CBP asks for a reasonable amount of time between visits without naming a number. Stay 90 days, leave for two weeks and ask for 90 more, and you will be asked where you actually live. The officer at the desk decides, not the ESTA.
Overstaying costs you the waiver
A single day too long and you lose your eligibility for the Visa Waiver Program. After that it is a visa, with a consulate appointment and an interview. Worth counting your travel days in the USA, even though nobody asks at the gate.
Check before travelling
- Is the ESTA linked to the passport you are using?
- Which status appears in I-94?
- Which “Admit Until Date” was granted?
- Are side trips part of the same admission period?