Citizen of VWP countries travel to US from Canada

[erencie 0]

Hi all, I am a citizen from one of the Visa Waiver Program countries and I am currently studying in Canada (I'm not a Canadian PR/citizen). I am planning to make a short visit to US to visit my friend's house. But there is one question I'm not very clear.

1. I am aware that if I travel by land from Toronto into Washington DC, I don't need anything. Just bring my passport.

2. But what if I bought a short-distance air ticket to fly from Toronto to Washington DC, do I need to do anything in this case? For example, do I need to get that ESTA thing beforehand?

If I need to apply ESTA for a flight from Toronto to Washington DC, a little bit irony here is that even though the two cities I'm departing from and arriving to are unchanged (both from Toronto -> Washington DC), a little bit change in the transportation mode (13 hr bus v.s. 1.5 hr flight) would change the way US customs treat me...

Edited October 7, 2013 by erencie

[Hypnos 6,578]

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1094/~/do-i-need-to-apply-for-esta

"I am a citizen of a VWP country and am visiting the U.S. from Canada or Mexico?

If you are coming by land, you do not need to have ESTA authorization, however, you should return your green I-94W card upon departure. If you are arriving by air or sea, you do need to apply for ESTA. You should return your green I-94W to the airline representative prior to boarding your flight."