New Guide Discussion: Everyone needs ESTA for US travel

client1_2

freeagent72 wrote: »

Hi - I am UK resident on holiday out in the US now, been here for 5.5 weeks, flying back next week but have decided I want to come back again a week later for another month ..................... And do you think I'll have any problems coming back so soon..?

You may, or may not, get in. No-one here can answer that for certain. There are no rules for this, but you are generally advised to spend more time out of the US than in.

max1882

Hi all, i have visited the U.S. before in 2005. Id heard horror stories about being denied entry if you have convictions, so i went to the embassy in London with my convictions(posseasion of cannabis, possesion of amphetamine, public order section 4/5 cant remeber which) ( must add as well very ashamed of these convictions from my teenage years)on paper and had an interview with them, anyway i got my visa and all was well.........my problem is i have been arrested since in 2007 and charged with public order section 4............when i apply for my visa i will obviously be truthful. Because of my convictions will my esta be denied and i have to go through the process of going to the embassy in london again? or does the esta system just basically say yes or no?

Thanks in advance
Max

client1_2

max1882 wrote: »

Hi all, i have visited the U.S. before in 2005. Id heard horror stories about being denied entry if you have convictions, so i went to the embassy in London with my convictions(posseasion of cannabis, possesion of amphetamine, public order section 4/5 cant remeber which) ( must add as well very ashamed of these convictions from my teenage years)on paper and had an interview with them, anyway i got my visa and all was well.........my problem is i have been arrested since in 2007 and charged with public order section 4............when i apply for my visa i will obviously be truthful. Because of my convictions will my esta be denied and i have to go through the process of going to the embassy in london again? or does the esta system just basically say yes or no?

Thanks in advance
Max

Fill it in and see what it says.

Also depends if the section 4 has any bearing on the waiver you received last time.

Best bet is to ask at britexpats.

max1882

thanks, ive posted the same question on there

kerry1986

Hi,

I am planning to travel to the USA for 3 weeks next September. My passport runs out this November but want to apply for the ESTA now before I book my holiday. My previous ESTA is still valid from last year but will run out next May. What should i do? If I apply now before my passport is renewed will it still be valid?

Thank you

Kerry

jackieblack

kerry1986 wrote: »

Hi,

I am planning to travel to the USA for 3 weeks next September. My passport runs out this November but want to apply for the ESTA now before I book my holiday.

If you want to get your ESTA before you book (no need to do this unless you think there is some reason why your application might not be approved) then you'll need to renew your passport asap and then apply for your new ESTA using the new passport number.

You can renew your passport anytime before it expires and get the time remaining on your existing passport added on to the new one, up to a maximum of 9 months, so your new passport would then expire 10 years from the expiry date of your current passport.

kerry1986 wrote: »

My previous ESTA is still valid from last year but will run out next May. What should i do?

Your current ESTA will actually expire when your passport expires this November, not next May.

kerry1986 wrote: »

If I apply now before my passport is renewed will it still be valid?

No.
If you renew your passport you will need to get a new ESTA using the new passport number.


If you have been granted ESTA previously and your circumstances haven't changed there is no reason why a new ESTA should be refused.
Applying too early will just 'waste' nearly half of the 2 year validity.

kerry1986

Jackie,

Thank you very much for your help :-) I wll renew my passport first and then get my ESTA sorted, I know how forgetful I can be and its good to hear that becuase my circumstances havent changed i should be fine!!

Thank you

jackieblack

kerry1986 wrote: »

Jackie,

Thank you very much for your help :-) I wll renew my passport first and then get my ESTA sorted, I know how forgetful I can be and its good to hear that becuase my circumstances havent changed i should be fine!!

Thank you

Obviously there is no guarantee but if your answers to all the questions are the same as last time your ESTA application was approved, there is no reason to suspect it wouldn't be approved next time.

Marcia17

Hi
I am travelling to NYat the end of November and my passport expires at the beginning of May so does not have 6 months left on it, i have read that this is Ok as I have a British passport, Is this right?
Also on VWP questions it says I need a "machine readable" passport my passport is from 2003 will it be machine readable or not? and has anyone had experience of travelling on a passport that is not machine readable?
I don't really want to eat into my spending money paying for a passport renewal a couple of months before I go:(
I hope someone can help, thank you

luci

You don't need 6 months left on it to visit the US.

If your passport has chevrons >>>>>>>>>>>> on the photo page then it is machine readable.

Be aware that your ESTA will expire when your passport does.