Esta

rugby6ft8

Hi everyone

I'm taking 40 children to New York next week. One of the children is currently in Florida on a family holiday and have travelled on a family ESTA.

Can anyone advise whether the pupil needs his own ESTA or will his family ESTA suffice? I was expecting to have to update his travel details once he returned from Florida, but I've just learned he's on a family ESTA.

I'm just asking from advice on here and I will be in contact with our travel agent tomorrow. I just thought I would ask as I'm at home.

jonesMUFCforever

Quick Google search gave me this
Do I need to apply for an ESTA on behalf of my minor child?


Yes, accompanied and unaccompanied children (regardless of age) require their own independant ESTA prior to their travels to the U.S being a citizen of a visa waiver country.

If you are completing an ESTA application for a minor, you may check the second option on the Waiver of Rights section (For third parties submitting the application on behalf of the applicant...) You should understand the terms of ESTA on behalf of your child or children, and you should answer the questions and statements truthfully as their guardian.

mgdavid

rugby6ft8 wrote: »

..... One of the children is currently in Florida on a family holiday and have travelled on a family ESTA.
........

not heard of that, the official website says everyone needs their own separate one. Do you know more?

jackieblack

ESTA is linked to the passport number so must be individual.
I think the family application is just a way of applying and paying for several in one go, but each person travelling has an individual ESTA

uncovered

I have a group application for the wife, myself and the 2 kids for our trip to New York next week. Just checked the esta site and I retrieve the application by entering the group I'd number. When I get the details back each one of us has a seperate application number linked to our passports.
I suspect the answer you will get back is that the child already has their own individual Esta.

rugby6ft8

Yeah I think you make a group application but get an individual ESTA. I've been online using my own successful application and all we have to do is update his travel/hotel details. It shouldn't take more than five minutes.

rugby6ft8

Thank you everyone for your responses.

EssexExile

You don't have to update any travel details.

photome

EssexExile wrote: »

You don't have to update any travel details.

I was going to say the same

jackieblack

EssexExile wrote: »

You don't have to update any travel details.

photome wrote: »

I was going to say the same

Me too!

shaun_from_Africa

Just one thing to add.

When the child that is currently in Florida returns back to the UK, see if you can make sure that they keep their boarding pass for the flight and take it with them when they go to NY.
The reason for this is that because the time between them leaving the US and returning again will be so short, there is a good possibility that the CBP won't have been updated to show their departure and this may delay their getting through immigration.

I know that it's unlikely to cause any problems, especially for a child but one thing the CBP state on their website is this:

Approved ESTA applications are valid for a period of two years, or until the passport expires, whichever comes first, and multiple trips to the United States without the traveler having to re-apply for another ESTA. When traveling to the U.S. with the approved ESTA, you may only stay for up to 90 days at a time - and there should be a reasonable amount of time between visits so that the CBP Officer does not think you are trying to live here. There is no set requirement for how long you must wait between visits

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1072/~/about-the-electronic-system-for-travel-authorization-%28esta%29