Visa for USA

Grohl

Hi,

I tried completing the gov Visa application online and came totally unstuck with it, so I decided to try one of the websites who complete a Visa for you.

I went with TravelVisaToUSA.com and paid £37 per person. I was then told to download my completed application for Electronic System Travel Authorisation (ESTA) which I have done and printed.

Can I ask, is that all there is to it?

On the completed form it states Authorization approved and congratulations you have been granted a valid ESTA by the US government, so it all looks okay, but I can't help worrying it was so simple on the website, were the Gov website was horrendous and I couldn't complete the application because even though we are only going on holiday for 7 days, they wanted the name and address of someone who would verify us in the USA.....it seemed crazy.

I would appreciate some advice.

thanks
Linda

visidigi

You need to read this...

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

It will tell you if you are eligible. Don't look at the price - might annoy you, if you had filled this out yourself it would have cos you $14 a person (around £9.50)

Grohl

Thanks. I wasn't really bothered how much I paid, I was just more concerned that the website I'd used was legit which it seems to be.....I hope.

Thanks again
Linda

whatmichaelsays

Are you applying for a Visa or an ESTA? The two are very different.

The ESTA form is pretty straight forward and it sounds like this is what you have done via a third party. This allows you to travel to the US under the Visa Waiver System.

A "visa" is required if you aren't eligible to travel under this system. The most common reason for this is if you have previous criminal convictions.

dannny_2

Grohl wrote: »

they wanted the name and address of someone who would verify us in the USA

eloborate please

whatmichaelsays wrote: »

The ESTA form is pretty straight forward

Although the question on "moral turpitude" keep lawyers extremely busy.

shaun_from_Africa

Originally Posted by Grohl
they wanted the name and address of someone who would verify us in the USA

dannny wrote: »

eloborate please

I'm assuming that the OP is referring to the ESTA form section that asks for your address whilst in the USA.
Unless they had read all the info and advice, they may not have realised that this is an optional part of the form and does not have to be filled in to obtain an ESTA.

ferf1223

it reads to me more like the OP was trying to complete an actual visa application - not an ESTA - originally.

OP - assume it was not this site you were looking at? The questions there are pretty straight-foward as others have said and while it does ask for an address in the US, it does not ask for the name and address of someone in the US who can 'verify' you.

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

mgdavid

Grohl wrote: »

Thanks. I wasn't really bothered how much I paid, .......

<sigh>
where do we start?

photome

the Op really need to clarify if it is a Visa or an ESTA that is required

meer53

It takes about 10 minutes to complete an Esta application, sounds as though the OP wasn't on the Esta site.

Grohl

I went into website to apply for a USA visa. On this website ais.usvisa-info.com I completed the application form, but became unstuck when asked for a DOS-160 number.......

I didn't know what on earth this was, so I phoned for help on 0906 820 0290. The chap on the end of the phone couldn't help me....he said..... and told me to go to a website called travel.state.gov.

This is again; where I came unstuck because when I was asked if I was travelling alone or with another person I stated another person. I stated spouse. This is when they started to ask me for relatives name and addresses of relatives in the USA, but I don't know why.

I decided I'd state travelling alone and then complete a second form for my husband.....no, they still wanted names and addresses of relatives in the USA.

I gave up and went to a website called TravelVisaToUsa.com completed the form and was given ESTA status.

I am travelling to New York for 7 days on holiday for my 60th birthday....

I think I will pop the paperwork given by TVTUsa into a travel agents and check it is what is required.

Thanks to everyone.
Linda