Getting Married, Passport and ESTA

Mr_squishy

We are getting married on the 26th of June, and flying out to Florida on the 28th for our honeymoon.
We have booked our honeymoon with Thomas Cook, and my Fiancee asked if she would be able to have her new married name on the tickets. We were told this was not a problem as long as the passport was also in the new name.

We have been geting things together to apply for a post dated passport in the new name, but have found that the ESTA applications cannot be made until the passport is valid - the 26th of June leaving just 48 hours before our flight.

Applying for the ESTA at midnight seems to be the only option but we do not want the worry of having to remember to do so close to the wedding, and if any problems occour, it could stop the honeymoon.

Has anyone had any experience in applying for the ESTA in this situation? Are there any alternatives, as she really want to travel in her married name?
We have heard that if you take your old passport, and marriage certifcate showing old name and married name on the tickets that this is allowed.

I have sent emails to the ESTA site, and the US consulate in the UK a few weeks ago, but have had no response from either.

Any help / advice ?

shellsuit

My advice?

Travel with the name she has now which is on her passport.

We're getting married in October and going on honeymoon 2 days later, but no way do I want the hassle of changing my name on documents the day after the wedding!

What if it all goes t!ts up and you can't go on honeymoon?

Wouldn't she rather play it safe to make sure she can go??

teallach

I'm sure you can apply for the ESTA as soon as you have the passport. I wouldn't have thought that it would have to be validated by your marriage.

alanrowell

The ESTA, tickets and passport will all have to be in the same name regardless what you decide to do. Otherwise she will - at best - be refused boarding and at worst get to spend a night in a US prison treated like a bit of scum.

You also need to ensure that she will get an ESTA - so leaving it to 2 days before travel is rather risking it as iuf she is refused you have no chance of making any other plans.

So use the existing passport or get a new passport issued several weeks before travel.

Either way ensure that everything matches up

Mr_Lahey

Mr_squishy wrote: »

We are getting married on the 26th of June, and flying out to Florida on the 28th for our honeymoon.
We have booked our honeymoon with Thomas Cook, and my Fiancee asked if she would be able to have her new married name on the tickets. We were told this was not a problem as long as the passport was also in the new name.

We have been geting things together to apply for a post dated passport in the new name, but have found that the ESTA applications cannot be made until the passport is valid - the 26th of June leaving just 48 hours before our flight.

Applying for the ESTA at midnight seems to be the only option but we do not want the worry of having to remember to do so close to the wedding, and if any problems occour, it could stop the honeymoon.

Has anyone had any experience in applying for the ESTA in this situation? Are there any alternatives, as she really want to travel in her married name?
We have heard that if you take your old passport, and marriage certifcate showing old name and married name on the tickets that this is allowed.

I have sent emails to the ESTA site, and the US consulate in the UK a few weeks ago, but have had no response from either.

Any help / advice ?

As has already been advised the best and probably only way round this is if you both travel under your own names.
ESTA has to be updated when the passport number and name changes.

Why create hassle when the simplest solution is, well, so simple.

teallach

You might want to read this:

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/ukpapress91.html


confirms what the others have said....don't chance it!

Mr_squishy

Looks like we will have to make a trip to the travel agents then to get the tickets changed.
We are a bit annoyed though as they said it would not be a problem.

diamondgirl007

We got married in 2004, I travelled in my maiden name as I was advised everything was easier this way (I was also advised by one person at passport office I could have my married name on aslong as we didn't travel before the wedding, but advised by another this wasn't allowed!). I didn't have a passport already and had to apply for one in my maiden name, to go on honeymoon!!! It hasn't worked out too badly though, we've never been abroad since so haven't needed to change it. Bit stupid tho but way easier!

ferf1223

teallach wrote: »

I'm sure you can apply for the ESTA as soon as you have the passport. I wouldn't have thought that it would have to be validated by your marriage.

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/faqs/faq_esta.html#niv146

I have a postdated passport. Can I register under ESTA?


ESTA will only recognise a valid passport. Therefore, you will not be able to register your details until the date on which the passport becomes vaild for travel. It is recommended that a traveler submit a registration at least 72 hours before traveling. If there is insufficient time for you to do this between the wedding ceremony and date of travel, you may wish to delay applying for a postdated passport and travel on your exisiting passport together with a copy of your marriage certificate.

Mr_squishy - unfortunately, it seems that a lot of mis-information is given out by travel agents. In cases like this they may argue that it's the traveller's responsibility to be sure their travel documents are in order - but if that's the case, they shouldn't tell people it will be fine. It will be interesting to see if they charge you for the name change. I would guess that they will.

jackieblack

Mr_Lahey wrote: »

ESTA has to be updated when the passport number and name changes.

You have to apply for a new ESTA if the passport number changes - you can't update any existing ESTA in these circumstances.

Vikki_74

I wonder if this is something which has been tightened up on recently with all the ESTA stuff? I'm sure when we booked our flights to the US with Virgin a few weeks ago a big message came up about having the same name on passport & tickets with specific mention of weddings/honeymoons etc - it's not something I remember seeing when we've booked previously, or at least not displayed so prominently.

We're getting married in California in September, and whilst it's not what I would want if I had a choice, I am resigned to the fact that everything will need to be booked in my maiden name It's really not the end of the world, and rather that than not getting to go at all as others have said.

Oh, and according to the government website...

The cost of changing the name on your passport:

For an adult passport it costs £77.50 for standard service, £112.50 for the one-week Fast Track service and £129.50 for the Premium one-day service. For a child passport it costs £49 for standard service, £96.50 for the one-week Fast Track service and £109.50 for the Premium one-day service.

See http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Passports/Howtochangethenameonyourpassport/DG_174165 for info