New Guide Discussion: Everyone needs ESTA for US travel

luci

Great news.

MaxwellEdison

I've come across a presumably common issue but I haven't found anyone who's able to suitably ease my worries as yet.

I've booked a honeymoon to the US, using the missus's married name as she's planning on getting a post-dated passport. I thought this would be fine until I found out that it is not possible to apply for an ETSA with a passport dated in the future.

The honeymoon starts two days after the wedding so it's conceivable to apply for the ETSA on the wedding day but this gives less time than the 72 hours recommended. We both travelled to the US last year so do have a valid ETSA, it's just one is required with the change of passport/name.

Has anyone else had a similar experience? Should I just take the hit on changing the name on the tickets back to her maiden name?

ferf1223

the post-dated passport issue has come up before and the general advice has been book flights in her maiden name to avoid the hassle...but the majority of people will have their ESTA approved immediately, and if not immediately, within less than 72 hours...some people turn up at the airport without an ESTA and get sent to an internet cafe to sort it out...so it could be OK...but what is the cost of changing the name? Do you really want to spend your wedding day worried about whether there will be an ESTA issue? Has she looked at the ESTA questions and confirmed she can answer 'no' to everything?

Probably for the vast majority of people it would be fine applying 2 days before, but it's always a risk - no one can say for certain there will not be an issue.

MaxwellEdison

Thanks for the prompt reply. She already has an existing ETSA (until June 2013) in her current name and passport and nothing's changed so all the answers will be no again.

I rang up the airline to get a quote for changing the name and got fobbed off (I felt) with them saying if I take the marriage certificate to the airport it will all be okay. So at the moment I don't feel any better about the situation.

luci

If you can find the time to apply for the ESTA on the wedding day you could do that, or better still get a trusted friend or relative to do it.

MaxwellEdison

I've tried again with the airline and arranged to get the name changed. They said it can only be done at the ticket desk at the airport and they'll still need to see the marriage certificate but the missus'll be able to travel on her existing passport (and therefore ETSA). Does that sound like it's going to work?

Ritchbee

I've just applied using the link on here is the charge below correct for a family of 4?
ESTA Application Service


Make The Following Payment

Upon receipt of your payment, your will be processed instantly (subject to US Government approval). You will receive email notification when your application has been approved.

Our professional fee for the service is US$126.00 (A$118.38). The service fee is inclusive of the US Government fee

scottishperson2

Ritchbee wrote: »

I've just applied using the link on here is the charge below correct for a family of 4?
ESTA Application Service


Make The Following Payment

Upon receipt of your payment, your will be processed instantly (subject to US Government approval). You will receive email notification when your application has been approved.

Our professional fee for the service is US$126.00 (A$118.38). The service fee is inclusive of the US Government fee

No.

The link is

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/

The total charge is $56 for 4 people ($14 each).

iglimpse

We are planning a family trip to Florida next month. One daughter be 23, son aged 22, probably our last ever trip together. Applied for the ESTAs together.......my son was caught drink driving when he had just turned 18 and convicted, that was 5 yrs ago.

I had never been more ashamed, I loathe drink drivers and I was so glad he had been caught.

So he cannot apply for an ESTA, was told he had to go to London and get full visa (10 days holiday only). We are due to travel in 5 weeks time. We have done lots of enquiries and apparently only those convictions that carry a max sentence of over a year are counted (also if such conviction is over 5 yrs old when we travel, his is one week off this)

This seemed to make no difference because when he went to London last week, they said he had to have a medical examination (local private company), costing £300 stating that he did not have an alcohol problem (he does not) .......this has now priced him out of the holiday, we just cannot stretch to this amount of money, we have saved for 2 yrs for this trip of a lifetime. It has already cost £75 foR the london trip, hotel, trains etc. we thought it was worth it get things sorted. Also over £35 in phone call charges to the embassy to query and set up the appt, premium rate only available.

So we face going without him, or losing it all. We had booked flights and were staying at an aquantances house at much reduced cost, so no refunds.

It really does feel like total exploitation. We were very honest in our application......now feeling that was not the right thing to do.

I am not looking for sympathy and I am still ashamed to this day for what he did. He pwill never drive a car again but thankfully! he learnt his lesson but seems he will still pay for it, forever.

I would truly appreciated any advice anyone can give me, to help us in this mess. I do not feel we should punish him again by leaving him behind

jonesMUFCforever

You have one choice and only one choice - do as the embassy say or leave him home.
Do not contemplate trying to chance it! He will be refused admission to the country and sent home if the paperwork is not in order.