I’d also like to know whether documents for entry into the U.S. are checked in Amsterdam upon landing, or if everything happens only after arrival at a U.S. airport. I’ve heard that Schiphol is one of the few airports with advance U.S. border control-is that true, and how much does it speed up the arrival process in the U.S.? I’d also like to know if I need to print out my ESTA or if it’s enough to show the confirmation on my phone, and whether they can deny me boarding if there’s a problem with my documents in Amsterdam rather than after the transatlantic flight.

I flew to Washington two months ago and was also confused by the paperwork at first. There’s a lot of information online, but it’s scattered across different websites. Regardless of whether you have a Schengen visa, you need an ESTA-a separate U.S. authorization that you apply for online for €21 and that is valid for two years. I applied for it a week before my flight and had no problems. The Amsterdam Airport guide was helpful-it has a lot of useful information, especially about flights to the U.S. As for preclearance, yes, Schiphol has U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the airport. This saves time upon arrival in the U.S. It took me about forty minutes to go through, and in Washington, I simply picked up my luggage and walked out without waiting in any lines. You don't need to print your ESTA; the electronic confirmation is sufficient.