Planning a Holiday

N.I.M.M.

Hello, everyone! I'm a newbie here and I would like to know if the info i got about ESTA is true: that I need to book flight and hotels before applying, and if application is rejected, I will lose both flight and Hotel costs. Also can I apply on my children's behalf (age 17 and 15). Please help! Thank you, all.

mgdavid

IIRC you don't need to have actually booked, just know what you intend to book.
For the teenagers, it's all done online so why not sit down with them and do it together, give them some knowledge that may come in useful in later years.

callum9999

You don't have to have booked or even know what you intend to book. It's merely an application to enter within the next two years. Any information about how, when or where you'll be entering is completely voluntary.

In fact, the advice is the complete opposite. Apply for an ESTA before you book anything so if you get denied, you aren't stuck with a non-refundable flight/hotel (though being denied is incredibly unlikely assuming you're all law abiding citizens - and even if you are denied you can possibly still get a visa).

Rambosmum

Try the ESTA now if you plan to go this year, before you book. All you need are the passports you will be using when you go. You can do a group ESTA (well, a group applications, the ESTAs are individual but I found it much quicker just to do them separately. You'll know within 72 hours if you've been accepted. If you are rejected you can appeal (the help page is full of info on how you or why you would do this) and if you can't appeal you can still apply for a VISA. If you don't know where you will be staying once in the US then they will require that info before allowing you entry in to the country but it can be done at the airport if need be- just make sure you have the full address of the hotel written down.

Sharon87

I knew straight away whether I was approved for an ESTA when I did one. I did have everything booked, so that may have helped. Good thing too as I was flying out that evening (emergency at work meant I had to fly to USA with 8 hours notice!). I literally filled in the ESTA, half an hour later I was on the way to the airport lol.

As said it's highly unlikely you'll be rejected unless you have a criminal record, even then it depends on what crime it was

N.I.M.M.

I am really loving this new forum! I got my questions answered speedily - all without ulterior motives from Forumites(!) Thank you, all!

Murphy_The_Cat

N.I.M.M. wrote: »

I am really loving this new forum! I got my questions answered speedily - all without ulterior motives from Forumites(!) Thank you, all!

& as a final double brucie :beer:
make sure that you get your esta via the official site and
pay for it using a Halifax Clarity credit card to avoid the foreign currency charges (I'm still miffed at myself for paying 25p for a non Sterling charge for my Esta)