America - ESTA help!

suzyp1982

Hi all,

Im off to New York soon, I have completed an online ESTA because when i last went to America i did complete the form and then got the other end and they said that they werent accepting online forms so had to write one out there.

Now i was just checking in online and it asked if i have an approved esta, so i thought i had to do the online esta, which i did, but when i pressed confirm it said that i already had a valid online esta and gave me the option of keeping the current one i have, which i did.

However, i have no number of ref for the original one i did back in 2009? do you think when i get there it will just be linked to my passport?

dzug1

It will be linked with your passport - you don't need to worry. You CAN recover the number on the ESTA site if you put in some details such as name and password.

And as to what happened last year - they were running the old and new systems in parallel, so you had to do both

HXDave

your esta is valid for 2 years, or until the passport used for the ESTA expires, whichever comes first, however you have to update for every trip.

if you co through to the official site:

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

on the right hand side it will show 'update or check status'. yes, it does ask for application number, however just below that is a link to click 'if you are missing your application number'.

you should be able to use this to locate your Esta. always worth updating a valid ESTA, as it means you wont have to pay for it provided it is within the validity dates.

Hope this helps.

getmore4less

Travelers may update this information when their plans are finalized, but they will not be required to update their destination addresses or itineraries should they change after their travel authorization has been approved

So there is no need to upate an ESTA for each trip.

Just leave blank when applied if approved that it for 2 years or till the passport runs out.

littlereddevil

I have just been on my second trip in 2 years and didn't update anything. The good news is there is no filling in of forms when you get there like last year.

Aquarius1980

Thanks HXDave - you've just saved me $14!!

I lost my application and didn't have a clue what my application number was, so was fully prepared to re-apply. I knew my application from Sept 09 was still valid, but the fact I didn't have a record of the application when checking in at Manchester airport in March this year for a trip to New York caused a few problems (I think it was more to do with having a bit of a jobsworth doing check in).

I thought it would just be less hassle to re-apply for my trip to NY next March - now I don't need to, and have saved an updated copy on my computer!