USA Visa or ESTA

Hermione_Granger

I'm planning a trip to Florida at the end of this year and although I have a valid 10 year US visa in my passport (B1/B2 visa, originally obtained for a training course I did a few years ago), I was wondering if it would cause any problems with the airlines if I didn't have an ESTA.

The rest of the group I'm going with al have ESTA's as they have all ben to America in the past couple of years.

ferf1223

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1094/~/do-i-need-to-apply-for-esta

Hermione_Granger

I had already seen that site and a few similar ones, but they only give the requirements as far as the US government are concerned as as my VISA is a B1 and B2 (tourist) I know that I should be okay with it.

I'm more interested in how the lack of an ESTA will affect me (if at all) with regards to airlines when it comes to booking up, providing the required advance information and checking in.

ferf1223

ESTA is for those travelling under the visa waiver programme, so if you have a visa you would not need an ESTA. The airlines will deal with visa holders all the time.

You do not need to provide documentation of a valid ESTA at the time you book your flights...the advance information is separate frome ESTA and when checking in the airline will be able to see your visa in your passport. Assuming there's no reason your visa is no longer valid then I can't imagine that there would be any issue.

If at all concerned - ring the airline you're thinking of booking with and ask.

shaun_from_Africa

From my recent experience I would say you should apply for an ESTA.
Although I am a UK citizen with a UK passport, I also have a visa for the USA. This is due to my passport having a lot of stamps from countries that at one time were on the USA "watch list" and it was a US embassy official in one of these countries that advised I applied for a visa.

I've travelled to the USA many times since getting this visa and never had a problem, never that is until last April.
I flew to the USA and when getting to the immigration desk was asked why I had a visa and not an ESTA. I explained why and was then asked to go and wait in a room for an interview.

This interview consisted of an immigration officer going through my passport asking me about just about every stamp, then checking the contents of my baggage very carefully. They also went through every bit of paperwork I had (including what was in my wallet) asking me many questions about my recent travel history, my work history, and my plans for the time I was in the USA.

Once they were satisfied I was allowed in, but the whole process took well in excess of 1 1/2 hours.
The immigration man carrying out the checks told me that if I had an ESTA and had submitted the info as part of the pre departure procedure then I would have walked straight through immigration.

The chances are that what happened to me won't happen to you but for the sake of a few £s, apply for an ESTA and you may possibly save yourself a lot of time and grief.

ferf1223

except that the ESTA site says, select this option to apply if

• You are a citizen or eligible national of a Visa Waiver Program country.
• You are currently not in possession of a visitor's visa.
• Your travel is for 90 days or less.
• You plan to travel to the United States for business or pleasure.

The OP is in possession of a visitor's visa.

shaun_from_Africa

ferf1223 wrote: »

except that the ESTA site says, select this option to apply if


You are currently not in possession of a visitor's visa.
The OP is in possession of a visitor's visa.

As am I, and I applied for an ESTA last week and it went straight through.
Before I did this I called the Visa section of the US embassy in London and asked their advice and they told me to go ahead and apply.
They said that the only problem I might encounter is that the B2 (tourist) section of my visa may get cancelled next time I go through immigration in the USA.

OP, if you do call the embassy for advice, make sure you do it just as they open (8am) otherwise your call may end up in a queue and you will be charged over 1.20 a minute for the call.