US ESTA before hotel is confirmed?

whatmichaelsays

henrygregory wrote: »

Thanks. The instructions online do say leave blank by putting 'none' but I didn't like the idea of that as it doesn't really give them much of an idea on why you are going over there. I am just going for a holiday, not work. I believe if it was business, there is a section for you to fill for that.

You typically have to confirm the address of your first night's accommodation when you check in for your flight. Leaving the section blank now on your ESTA application won't cause any issues when you land in the States - the airline will have passed on the details that you provide at check-in (when, presumably, you'll know your hotel).

InsideInsurance

Cant recall ever being asked at check in either where I'm staying but its certainly on the landing card you still have to do and hand to immigration on entry.

Javens

I've just got a new passport after losing my old one and applied for an ESTA. I put none in the accommodation details as I haven't booked a trip or got one planned, though I plan on booking soon.

After it was approved, it allows you to go into the application and change your accommodation details at any time.

callum9999

duchy wrote: »

I tend to put a likely one in. it doesn't matter if it changes later- whereas none tends to flag up at entry and leads to a couple more questions.

Doesn't it only flag up one question - I.e. where are you staying?

callum9999

jonesMUFCforever wrote: »

I would have done it just prior to booking the flights - just in case !;)

Probably wise, but if you're booking a year in advance then that's a year of the ESTA wasted! I wouldn't do it myself until a month or two before flying, giving you enough time to get a visa in the incredibly unlikely case of your ESTA being declined (unless you do something stupid like admit you orchestrated a genocide!).

InsideInsurance

Javens wrote: »

After it was approved, it allows you to go into the application and change your accommodation details at any time.

Are you sure??

(a) if its approved its no longer an application, I believe you can only see its status after that

(b) if its approved, why'd you bother changing it seeing as its already approved??

Indeed their website says that if you make a mistake you have to submit a new application and pay the fee again - just as I had to with my mistake on the Mrs DOB

jackieblack

What information can I update? Prior to submitting an electronic travel authorization application with the required payment information, you can update all application data fields except the passport number and passport issuing country. Once an application is complete and submitted with all the required payment information, you can still update any one of the following fields:

• E-mail address
• Address in the U.S.

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/WebHelp/ESTA_Screen-Level_Online_Help_1.htm#ta1

jackieblack

InsideInsurance wrote: »

Cant recall ever being asked at check in either where I'm staying but its certainly on the landing card you still have to do and hand to immigration on entry.

It's on the API you have to complete for the airline.
Haven't filled in an I94W on the plane for several years.


I haven't bothered updating my flight or address information on my last 2 or 3 ESTAs for subsequent trips within the 2 year validity period and never had any problems.

jonesMUFCforever

callum9999 wrote: »

Probably wise, but if you're booking a year in advance then that's a year of the ESTA wasted! I wouldn't do it myself until a month or two before flying, giving you enough time to get a visa in the incredibly unlikely case of your ESTA being declined (unless you do something stupid like admit you orchestrated a genocide!).

The point I was making is better to waste £10 than hundreds for a flight you could not use if you are refused an ESTA and do not get or apply for a visa.

Crispy_Ambulance

callum9999 wrote: »

Probably wise, but if you're booking a year in advance then that's a year of the ESTA wasted! I wouldn't do it myself until a month or two before flying, giving you enough time to get a visa in the incredibly unlikely case of your ESTA being declined (unless you do something stupid like admit you orchestrated a genocide!).

The ESTA only costs $14 dollars though, so that's only $7 dollars wasted. However, from other forums for USA travellers, a visa can take around 6 months to process, so if you leave your ESTA till the last minute and it gets declined, you may not be travelling at all. $14 dollars isn't a lot compared to the price of a non-refundable transatlantic flight.

Most seem to go through no problem, but there was an issue with flights from Orlando in 2012 where passengers were not marked as leaving the US, so went on a list as overstayers, resulting in ESTAs being refused. People didn't know this until they reapplied - in some cases, too late to get it sorted out.