US ESTA before hotel is confirmed?

callum9999

Crispy_Ambulance wrote: »

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.

Which is why I didn't say "wait until last minute". The current wait time for a visa appointment in London is 2 weeks, plus another week to process it - if you don't like taking risks then by all means get it as early as possible though. I'm not trying to convince anyone to leave it any later than they are comfortable doing.

I always find that when people say it's "only £X wasted", they're never happy to hand that amount over to me!

pelirocco

I will shortly be travelling for the 3rd using the same ESTA , so obviously not staying in the same hotel on the same date each time , so guess where you put you are staying doesnt make any difference

Crispy_Ambulance

callum9999 wrote: »

I always find that when people say it's "only £X wasted", they're never happy to hand that amount over to me!

You're quite right - I'm not giving my seven dollars to you!

I don't think of it as wasted - in comparison to the price of a flight, it is a small amount. Threads like this on the Dibb forums are a bit of an eye-opener. Chances are that the vast majority will be fine, but I wouldn't risk thousands of pounds worth of flights to save seven dollars.

callum9999

Crispy_Ambulance wrote: »

You're quite right - I'm not giving my seven dollars to you!

I don't think of it as wasted - in comparison to the price of a flight, it is a small amount. Threads like this on the Dibb forums are a bit of an eye-opener. Chances are that the vast majority will be fine, but I wouldn't risk thousands of pounds worth of flights to save seven dollars.

Worth a shot!

Yeah, though again that's why I said it would be "wise"! I personally think the odds of that happening are lower than the odds of winning a grand on the lottery with those $7, so it's not something that has me particularly worried - not least because worst case scenario, a couple of months gives you plenty of time to get a visa (even 3 weeks should be enough) or sort out the ESTA mistake.

I'm just backing up the "wait and see" method - not recommending it if your preference is to get it done early.

Igol

Out of interest has anyone ever been asked for one?
We presented ours at JFK with Passports and the 'cheery' immigration chap didn't even unfold it to see what it was.
In Boston it was somewhere in a pocket but they were too busy being even more 'cheery' than JFK to be bothered by such things.
Brooklyn Cruise Terminal seemed quite happy that we had a little book the right colour and were actually laughing and joking with us.

EssexExile

Asked for what? An ESTA isn't a thing you carry around with you, it's all electronic. Which is why when their computers are down you get an arrival hall full of people hurriedly filling out the forms it was supposed to replace.

callum9999

You also won't be allowed on the plane without it anyway (though I'm sure it would flag on their computers that you didn't have it if you miraculously got through the very strict airline checks).

Igol

EE that kinda backs up the idea of carrying a paper copy.
As for it being flagged by your carrier, how would they know?
My ESTA is long since expired and BA didnt have any interest when I booked the flight last year for this summer and the only issues we had boarding the plane last time was the less than helpful Iceland Air staff who'd decided that they had taken on the role of US Customs and werent happy that we we'rent flying back with them and demanded we show proof of return passage - another folded bit of paper that when produced wasnt looked at.

Obviously I'm not saying you shouldnt get one, but other than being a tax on tourists what purpose does it serve?

DTDfanBoy

Igol wrote: »

EE that kinda backs up the idea of carrying a paper copy.
As for it being flagged by your carrier, how would they know?
My ESTA is long since expired and BA didnt have any interest when I booked the flight last year for this summer and the only issues we had boarding the plane last time was the less than helpful Iceland Air staff who'd decided that they had taken on the role of US Customs and werent happy that we we'rent flying back with them and demanded we show proof of return passage - another folded bit of paper that when produced wasnt looked at.

Obviously I'm not saying you shouldnt get one, but other than being a tax on tourists what purpose does it serve?

You need to be cleared by the TSA and US Customs and Border Protection to board a flight to the US, so if you don't have an ESTA or Visa you won't be getting clearance from either organisation to board the aircraft.

It's a computerised system, so if the computer says no there's no way you're getting on the flight regardless of what the piece of paper in your hand says

callum9999

Igol wrote: »

EE that kinda backs up the idea of carrying a paper copy.
As for it being flagged by your carrier, how would they know?
My ESTA is long since expired and BA didnt have any interest when I booked the flight last year for this summer and the only issues we had boarding the plane last time was the less than helpful Iceland Air staff who'd decided that they had taken on the role of US Customs and werent happy that we we'rent flying back with them and demanded we show proof of return passage - another folded bit of paper that when produced wasnt looked at.

Obviously I'm not saying you shouldnt get one, but other than being a tax on tourists what purpose does it serve?

It doesn't, because an unverified paper-print out from a home printer holds zero official recognition.

The carriers are linked to a database and will check at the airport whether you're permitted to fly to the US or not. They won't check when you book, they'll check at the airport/during check-in. If BA didn't check you then that would be a serious lapse in procedure and they'd probably have received a large fine when you turned up at the US border without one.

Iceland Air weren't "taking on the role of US customs" - they were doing their job (though if they didn't check your ESTA either then they weren't doing it properly). You must have a return flight, or demonstrate the means to buy one, when entering the US. If you don't then Iceland Air can again receive a large fine for transporting you.

The purpose it serves is giving you the right to approach the US border - without the ESTA you don't have that right (via air/ship). Your experience isn't remotely typical, I have no idea how you managed to get away with it and quite frankly, you'd be insane to risk it again. Are you sure you didn't have a visa?