ESTA question

Mrs_pbradley936

If someone already has an ESTA but it is due to expire soon do they renew it or start from scratch?

pompeyrich

Mrs_pbradley936 wrote: »

If someone already has an ESTA but it is due to expire soon do they renew it or start from scratch?

According to the official ESTA site;

"Does a traveler ever need to reapply for a travel authorization through ESTA?
Yes, there may be instances when a new travel authorization via ESTA would be required. A new travel authorization may be required in any of the following circumstances:

• The traveler is issued a new passport
• The traveler changes his or her name
• The traveler changes his or her gender
• The traveler’s country of citizenship changes; or
• The circumstances underlying the traveler’s previous responses to any of the ESTA application questions requiring a “yes” or “no” response have changed.

Travel authorization approvals will typically be granted for a period of two years or until the applicant’s passport expires, whichever is sooner. ESTA will provide validity dates upon approval of the application. Therefore, a traveler must apply for a new travel authorization when a prior ESTA authorization or an applicant’s passport expires. The associated fee will be charged for each new application submitted".

So it looks like a new application, an ESTA only has to be valid on your arrival date in the USA, not for the duration of your stay.