New Guide Discussion: Everyone needs ESTA for US travel

HammyT

Please be aware that the ESTA website is being updated on June 16th. This may delay any pending applications. You may need to reapply.

jackieblack

HammyT wrote: »

Please be aware that the ESTA website is being updated on June 16th. This may delay any pending applications. You may need to reapply.

For clarity - it’s happening June 26th, not 16th.

NEWS The ESTA website will be updated on June 26, 2019. All ESTA applications that are in a pending payment status at the time of the update will be archived. Applicants impacted will have to reapply after the update is complete. Citizens of participating Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries traveling to the United States are strongly encouraged to apply for an ESTA at the time of booking their trip and no later than 72 hours prior to departure.
https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/

JayD

I found this on the official ESTA application site and found it very scary. We have to apply for an ESTA to travel to the US but do we really have to relinquish all rights to privacy regarding the personal information we have to supply?



"



SECURITY NOTIFICATION


You are about to access a Department of Homeland Security computer system. This computer system and data therein are property of the U.S. Government and provided for official U.S. Government information and use. There is no expectation of privacy when you use this computer system. The use of a password or any other security measure does not establish an expectation of privacy. By using this system, you consent to the terms set forth in this notice. You may not process classified national security information on this computer system. Access to this system is restricted to authorized users only. Unauthorized access, use, or modification of this system or of data contained herein, or in transit to/from this system, may constitute a violation of section 1030 of title 18 of the U.S. Code and other criminal laws. Anyone who accesses a Federal computer system without authorization or exceeds access authority, or obtains, alters, damages, destroys, or discloses information, or prevents authorized use of information on the computer system, may be subject to penalties, fines or imprisonment. This computer system and any related equipment is subject to monitoring for administrative oversight, law enforcement, criminal investigative purposes, inquiries into alleged wrongdoing or misuse, and to ensure proper performance of applicable security features and procedures. DHS may conduct monitoring activities without further notice."

jackieblack

JayD wrote: »

I found this on the official ESTA application site and found it very scary. We have to apply for an ESTA to travel to the US but do we really have to relinquish all rights to privacy regarding the personal information we have to supply?



"



SECURITY NOTIFICATION


You are about to access a Department of Homeland Security computer system. This computer system and data therein are property of the U.S. Government and provided for official U.S. Government information and use. There is no expectation of privacy when you use this computer system. The use of a password or any other security measure does not establish an expectation of privacy. By using this system, you consent to the terms set forth in this notice. You may not process classified national security information on this computer system. Access to this system is restricted to authorized users only. Unauthorized access, use, or modification of this system or of data contained herein, or in transit to/from this system, may constitute a violation of section 1030 of title 18 of the U.S. Code and other criminal laws. Anyone who accesses a Federal computer system without authorization or exceeds access authority, or obtains, alters, damages, destroys, or discloses information, or prevents authorized use of information on the computer system, may be subject to penalties, fines or imprisonment. This computer system and any related equipment is subject to monitoring for administrative oversight, law enforcement, criminal investigative purposes, inquiries into alleged wrongdoing or misuse, and to ensure proper performance of applicable security features and procedures. DHS may conduct monitoring activities without further notice."

If you don’t want to give them your information that’s up to you.
Just don’t travel to the USA.
Their country, their rules.
Your choice.

joed123

I have a few questions..

I went to USA in 2008 with no problems.

I was rejected for an ESTA around 2013/2014 when i wanted to go again.

Who can i contact to find out why i was rejected? before i apply again? I dont want to waste money though they say its only $4?!

Once you apply and are accepted, how long does it last for?

Should i apply again, what are my chances of being rejected again?

Joe

headpin

joed123 wrote: »

I have a few questions..

I went to USA in 2008 with no problems.

I was rejected for an ESTA around 2013/2014 when i wanted to go again.

Who can i contact to find out why i was rejected? before i apply again? I dont want to waste money though they say its only $4?!

Once you apply and are accepted, how long does it last for?

Should i apply again, what are my chances of being rejected again?

Joe

ESTA is $14. Lasts for 2 years or until your passport expires, whichever sooner.

If you were rejected you probably incorrectly answered a question. If you have replaced your passport in the meantime it is worth trying again, will cost $14 but worth a gamble. If same passport you will likely have issues trying to get an ESTA and will probably need to go to the Embassy for an interview and a formal Visa in your passport. This will also cost more as well as your costs and expenses getting to the Embassy.

However, if you were originally rejected as you failed to meet the US entry/travel criteria then you may have issues even getting a Visa via an interview. This process can often take 3 months or more so your travelling arrangements should allow sufficient time for this and without knowing if you will be allowed to travel I would suggest you do not book until all sorted out.

The only way you may be able to find out why you were rejected originally is to try again and see what happens. If just a rejection offers then contacting the US Embassy may help but that is not guaranteed as often they just say you need to attend for an interview and see the result of that.

Good Luck

DragonSprite

I'd booked return flights to LA for May back in January not foreseeing Covid-19 would end up as a global pandemic. 
I realised my currently annual Worldwide insurance didn't cover the US at the last minute (Fri 13th!), just as all travel insurances either halted new applications, or placed a disclaimer that new policies would not cover anything related to Covi-19! D'oh!

I booked our first two nights in LA so I could apply for an ESTA yesterday and literally 10 minutes later Trump included UK and Ireland to the ban list (but didn't mention how long for!).

Should I apply for an ESTA now, or wait until mid April?
If I did apply now and with the ban coming into effect from tomorrow, would my ESTA be completely cancelled and I'd lose the $14 fee?

I'm also slightly concerned about the ESTA being turned down as I took a day trip to Seattle from Canada in 2012 and didn't realise I had to stop at the boarder on the way back to hand in the green slip.
I had travelled to the States since (before ESTAs) and the Boarder Guard did quiz me as to when I was last in the States and didn't realise why at the time, but he let me pass.
Many thanks for any advice

photome

DragonSprite said:

I'd booked return flights to LA for May back in January not foreseeing Covid-19 would end up as a global pandemic. 
I realised my currently annual Worldwide insurance didn't cover the US at the last minute (Fri 13th!), just as all travel insurances either halted new applications, or placed a disclaimer that new policies would not cover anything related to Covi-19! D'oh!

I booked our first two nights in LA so I could apply for an ESTA yesterday and literally 10 minutes later Trump included UK and Ireland to the ban list (but didn't mention how long for!).

Should I apply for an ESTA now, or wait until mid April?
If I did apply now and with the ban coming into effect from tomorrow, would my ESTA be completely cancelled and I'd lose the $14 fee?

I'm also slightly concerned about the ESTA being turned down as I took a day trip to Seattle from Canada in 2012 and didn't realise I had to stop at the boarder on the way back to hand in the green slip.
I had travelled to the States since (before ESTAs) and the Boarder Guard did quiz me as to when I was last in the States and didn't realise why at the time, but he let me pass.
Many thanks for any advice

You are best to apply for an ESTA as soon as you book a trip, so I would apply now. An application doesn’t ask anything about where you are travelling to in the USA

jonesMUFCforever

How come 'worldwide' travel insurance does not cover the USA?