USA holiday ESTA advice needed

pollypenny

We never had any trouble when entering the USA, even though our passports have visas for Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Vietnam.

Most officers there are chatty and pleasant.

jackieblack

Faithx wrote: »

Our last trip was at Christmas/New Year (2015) and our ESTA forms were both valid. What never crossed our minds was that, as my daughter had renewed her passport, that then rendered her present and valid ESTA form obsolete! Fortunately, as ESTA forms are done on-line and there are pay-as-you-go computers at airports, we managed to get a valid ESTA form...and our flight! It was a big shock though at the time being told she could not board the flight and I'm sure many people have been caught out in this way and never thought for a minute that a new passport equals new ESTA form:

Did your daughter renew her passport early?
When I applied for an ESTA with less than 2 years left on my passport the ESTA expiration date was the date the passport expired, not the full 2 years.

parking_question_chap

Thanks very much for the replies.

Do they take long to get approved?

Im guessing its best to do them before booking a holiday? Better to spend $14 up front, rather than £1000+ on a holiday and then one of us gets declined on the ESTA.

photome

parking_question_chap wrote: »

Thanks very much for the replies.

Do they take long to get approved?

Im guessing its best to do them before booking a holiday? Better to spend $14 up front, rather than £1000+ on a holiday and then one of us gets declined on the ESTA.

It's normally instant ( or within a few minutes)if you are eligible

SW17

parking_question_chap wrote: »

Thanks very much for the replies.

Do they take long to get approved?

Im guessing its best to do them before booking a holiday? Better to spend $14 up front, rather than £1000+ on a holiday and then one of us gets declined on the ESTA.

And also just bear in mind that the validity period is for 2 years from date of ESTA approval (or until your passport expires, whichever comes sooner), not from your first date of travel. As you are planning to go in September, that shouldn't be a big issue for you, just FYI.

dzug1

photome wrote: »

It's normally instant ( or within a few minutes)if you are eligible

Whilst that's true, it can take up to 72 hours in some cases

jonesMUFCforever

Not strictly relevant to this thread but thought I would share with you - got an e-mail today from US authorities stating my ESTA expires in next 30 days and the link to apply for a new one.

jackieblack

jonesMUFCforever wrote: »

Not strictly relevant to this thread but thought I would share with you - got an e-mail today from US authorities stating my ESTA expires in next 30 days and the link to apply for a new one.

Yes, I've found this a useful reminder in the past, especially when different family member's ESTAs are due to expire on different dates

pacontracting

The U.S. Authorities will not accept paper copies of ESTA as proof due to the fact these can be easily forged.

I've travelled to the U.S. Countless times over the last few years and have never been asked for a printout ( and wouldn't expect to be).

That being said, it's only a piece of paper so if it makes you feel better, feel free.