ESTA to get into the USA

dannny_2

virtuallyfree wrote: »

The USA .....has always required a visa.

The problem is that if you do not attempt to acquire any knowledge of the culture and customs of the country you are visiting, then you will run into this sort of problem.

I have NEVER required a visa to get into the USA. I've always used the visa waiver programme.

Second part of the quote I left in for your shame at mocking the OP.

ESTA to get into the USA

Not always, sometimes you don't need ESTA. Travelling by land from Canada for instance.

duchy

dannny wrote: »

I have NEVER required a visa to get into the USA. I've always used the visa waiver programme.

Second part of the quote I left in for your shame at mocking the OP.



Not always, sometimes you don't need ESTA. Travelling by land from Canada for instance.

Ah you're so young I certainly have had US visa in the past.......the reason it is called a visa waiver is because all non US and Canadian passport holders need a visa EXCEPT a handful of countries who essentially had the visa (waiver) issued at point of entry but could be and were refused entry if anything flagged up when they passed through immigration however prior to that you DID need a visa -and most countries still do-the ESTA is basically the visa waiver in electronic form and with a fee involved .....probably a nice little earner for Homeland security.

I agree you DO need a visa between Canada and the US if not a citizen of either country but it certainly used to be very lax (it isn't any more) I've driven over with a US citizen and they only looked at his driving licence and didn't ask us sitting in the back at all (we didn't speak so immigration didn't hear the accent)

dannny_2

duchy wrote: »

I agree you DO need a visa between Canada and the US if not a citizen of either country

You DON'T need a visa between Canada and the US land crossing if you can use the VWP. You use the I-94W.

ESTA is the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, and is an enhancement to the security features of the VWP. It doesn't replace the VWP. Get your $6 and an I-94W ready if travelling by land between Canada and the US though.

photome

duchy wrote: »

I see the OP has gone ....... but then as their post was quoted in full in post 2 I suppose it doesn't really matter

See I can be helpful!

Guess we wont hear back from the OP though so will never know who he booked with and wether there was any mention of an ESTA being required

Caz3121

I imagine the response from the agent will be along the lines of..."it was in the terms and conditions and you ticked a box to confirm you have read and understood all the terms and conditions"...how many people tick that box without reading them all?

pennylane99

littlereddevil wrote: »

If you told us which airline and who you booked through we could all check

OP previous thread says going to Washington with Air France & KLM ...;)

dannny_2

So you think you need a visa to get into the USA

virtuallyfree wrote: »

The USA is one of the most desirable countries for immigrants.
It has always been very strict on entries.
It has always required a visa.

You are incorrect. You state that

virtuallyfree wrote: »

The problem is that if you do not attempt to acquire any knowledge of the culture and customs of the country you are visiting, then you will run into this sort of problem.

You have obviously not attempted to acquire any knowledge at all. Yet you feel you can post garbage onto websites in the attempt to get someone to think they need a visa, when they can actually travel visa free.

virtuallyfree

dannny wrote: »

So you think you need a visa to get into the USA



You are incorrect. You state that



You have obviously not attempted to acquire any knowledge at all. Yet you feel you can post garbage onto websites in the attempt to get someone to think they need a visa, when they can actually travel visa free.

OP did not have an ESTa. OP was upset because she did not know she needed an ESTa. Why did she need an ESTa?
So she did not have to get a visa! Before we had to get an ESTa we had to get a Visa. We have always had to get a visa, the EsTa waivers us from getting a visa, but if we dont have an esta, we need a visa.
And OP did not have an ESTA, so guess what she should have had a visa. but OP did not even know about visas, so guess what she could not travel. An esta does not give you permission to enter it waives you from having a visa to enter which the USA requires. Isnt it time for confession Monsignor?? byyyeeeeeee x

You call it garbage, I call it rubbish, lets call the whole thing off.

http://london.usembassy.gov/mobile/niv/vwp.html

Overview - Visa Waiver Program (VWP) Requirements
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows citizens of participating countries to travel to the United States without a visa for stays of 90 days or less, when they meet all requirements. Travelers must be eligible to use the VWP and have a valid Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approval prior to travel. If you are eligible to travel on the VWP, but prefer to have a visa in your passport, you may still apply for a visitor (B) visa.

Travel Purpose Must be Permitted on a Visitor (B) Visa:

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows citizens of participating countries to travel to the United States without obtaining a visa, for stays of 90 days or less for business, tourism, visiting or pleasure. Transiting or traveling through the United States to Canada or Mexico is generally permitted for VWP travelers. The following are examples of activities permitted while in the United States on the VWP.

ferf1223

virtuallyfree wrote: »

OBefore we had do get an ESTa we had to get a Visa. We have always had to get a visa, the EsTa waivers us from getting a visa

hmmm...no...immediately before ESTA people travelled under the VWP (those who qualified to do so) and didn't need anything else in terms of documetnation aquired before travelling - you filled in a form on the plane, that was it...at least for the last 15 years or so...I know that at some point visas were required...but it's not recent memory.

So I guess in principle you could have someone who travelled to the US pre ESTA who didn't realise that they needed anything other than their passport - as that's all they needed to have with them/arrange in advance last time...assuming they qualified for the VWP of course.

I still find it strange that people don't check when travelling anywhere and still think it's the traveller's responsibility...and it surprises me a lot when people get caught out on these things...but I can sort of see how in a limited number of cases it could happen...I still find it surprising if ESTA was not mentioned on any paperwork at all.

In theory if you qualify for the VWP you don't need a visa...you just need an ESTA in order to travel under the VWP...ESTA doesn't actually waive the need for a visa...if you qualify for the VWP you don't need a visa.

zagfles

Yup - first time I went to the US (mid 80's) a VISA was required.

But I went several times in the 90's with my wife, who has never had a VISA or ESTA or any other pre-travel authorisation for the US. As I remember it was just a case of filling a form on the plane, she had to fill in a different form to me as I had a VISA.