ESTA is it not needed??

Zuperman12

I recently travelled to America (Detriot|) a few weeks ago for a holiday. I like everyone else was informed I need an ESTA, so applied, bought one and was approved. While I was on the flight all passangers where given a customs form to fill out, I never bothered completing it as I thought well I have an ESTA that's all I needed. When I got to customs I was rudely informed that my ESTA form was worthless and the customs officer didnt even want to look at it and I wasn't getting through without the customs form from the airplane. So I filled that in and that's all they required

So basically I didn't need an ESTA, just the FREE form you get in the plane!

Has this happened to anyone else before? As it seems a money making scheme from the American tourist board

Cheers

aspencer6

You need an ESTA/Visa before you board the plane then you fill in the customs declaration form on the plane.

Linus2864

I think you are getting confused between the ESTA and the Customs Declaration.

The ESTA is an electronic authorisation to travel is and stored on their database against your passport number, so you didn't really need a paper copy.

The Customs Declaration form confirms that you are not bringing in any prohibited goods.

Hope this helps.

L

peachyprice

They are two different documents needed by two different US government departments.

The customs man didn't want your ESTA because it doesn't tell him whether you have prohibited items in your luggage but immigration wouldn't have let you in without it.

dickydonkin

Zuperman12 wrote: »

When I got to customs I was rudely informed that my ESTA form was worthless and the customs officer didnt even want to look at it and I wasn't getting through without the customs form from the airplane.

Yes......US customs and immigration officers certainly know how to welcome visitors to their country!:(

photome

dickydonkin wrote: »

Yes......US customs and immigration officers certainly know how to welcome visitors to their country!:(

I have always found them to be pleasant

ferf1223

dickydonkin wrote: »

Yes......US customs and immigration officers certainly know how to welcome visitors to their country!:(

It's unwelcoming to require a passenger present the necessary documentation and refusing to accept something completely different instead?

Anyway...customs and immigration aren't the toursit board or welcome wagon...and I'm not sure that anyone could argue that folks in similar roles in the UK don't act exactly the same (as a non-EU passport holder I can say that UK immigration officials aren't exactly all smiles and open arms and welcome to our country but I wouldn't expect them to be...it's not their job to welcome me).

OP - sorry you misunderstood but when all the other passengers were completing customs forms you could have double-checked with the flight attendants if you needed to fill one out or not...I get that you thought you didn't need one...but most of the passengers on a plane into the US will probably also have ESTAs.

ferf1223

peachyprice wrote: »

but immigration wouldn't have let you in without it.

most likely the airline wouldn't have let the passenger on the flight without one so they wouldn't even have made it to immigration.

peachyprice

Very true

opinions4u

Talk about reaching the wrong conclusion from your own idiotic behaviour.

Given your arrogance I'm a tad surprised that they let you in.

alanrowell

All an ESTA does is give you permission to travel by air or sea on selected carriers to the US. Without it you do not get on the plane.

It does not guarantee entry to the US nor does it mean you can ignore customs forms.