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ESTA cancelled - URGENT help please

We are flying to America in 2 days and my wife has just received and email saying her ESTA has been cancelled. We had applied and been accepted a few weeks ago. It says she doesn't has a chip passport but she does.
Please need advice on how we can fix it?
Do we need to go to the American embassy today? Do we need to get an urgent new passport (though tickets are booked under her maiden name as her passport is still in that name, would we need to change the tickets too if a new passport?)

Please, if anyone has any advice, we really need it!

Thanks in advance.
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Comments

  • SW17
    SW17 Posts: 872 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    When was her passport issued? It seems the UK govt is saying that chip passports started being issued in Oct 2006, even though some were issued before that. Possible the US authorities have cancelled ESTAs on all passports issued before then as a result.

    You might find this thread on Flyertalk helpful, someone there had the same issue, they solved it by getting a new passport. Of course, that might not be the only way, but dealing with the US authorities in the time you have could be a challenge.

    http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/usa/1754805-esta-status-change.html
  • jackieblack
    jackieblack Posts: 10,511 Forumite
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    If you decide to go the new passport route and the flight is booked in her maiden name then it would be simpler to renew the passport in the same name.
    If you particularly want to get the new passport in her married name you would first need to check with the airline whether they would allow the name on her ticket to be changed and how much that would cost, otherwise you might end up with a whole new set of problems!
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  • Yes! It was issued in May 2006. So, you think better to go for the new passport rather than try to fix it with the American Embassy?
    If we get her new passport do we have to change it to her married name? That would mean changing tickets and everything we've booked for in the U.S.

    Aaaaaggghhhh! Thanks for helping!!!
  • Westin
    Westin Posts: 6,333 Forumite
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    edited 23 March 2016 at 8:48AM
    I feel very sorry for your position.

    I have also been caught by this late change in Homeland Security rules. I thankfully had an email from Virgin Atlantic to let me know so last week ended up at Victoria obtaining a new passport. A new ESTA was obtained the day I recieved my new passport.

    You are no doubt in a terrible situation with a passport which is probably valid but the US authorities nevertheless cancelling your wife's ESTA. Without a valid ESTA you won't get past check-in. I suspect the only solution is a new passport. It's possible but will cost you in time and money. You can book an appointment online via the .gov.uk site.

    You will be wasting your time going to the US embassy. You won't make it past the guard house. Forget that option. Even if you call them I very much doubt you will get a satisfactory answer from anyone.

    Good luck.
  • Nearest passport appointment is Newport or Liverpool - we're in Essex! Not sure we can get there in time for appointment and them to make the passport too!

    What are our chances if we go to American Embassy to apply for non-immigrant visa?
  • Westin
    Westin Posts: 6,333 Forumite
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    edited 23 March 2016 at 8:57AM
    FORGET the US Embassy. You simply can't turn up there. The visa application process is long winded and requires an appointment being made.
  • Westin
    Westin Posts: 6,333 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    This is the thread from a month ago which started to highlight and discuss this issue.

    http://https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5422756
  • HappyMJ
    HappyMJ Posts: 21,115 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Yes! It was issued in May 2006. So, you think better to go for the new passport rather than try to fix it with the American Embassy?
    If we get her new passport do we have to change it to her married name? That would mean changing tickets and everything we've booked for in the U.S.

    Aaaaaggghhhh! Thanks for helping!!!

    She can get a new passport in her name before you were married. There's no need to take your name on marriage. A man or a woman can either choose to use the name they had before marriage, take the other partners name or combine names on marriage. You just start using the name of your choice and you use a marriage certificate to prove the link between names. So although part of her life she may have started using your name she can say she is still known by the name on her passport.
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  • Westin
    Westin Posts: 6,333 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    There are currently 6 appointment slots available tomorrow (24th) at Victoria, London and 7 in Peterborough. Would either location work for you? Both will potentially accept and process a passport on the day.
  • HHarry
    HHarry Posts: 991 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper
    Mine was issued in September 2006 and is an e-passport. Looks like someone has decided that Oct 2006 was the cut off.

    I feel really sorry for those caught out with iminent travel plans.

    Edit: With nothing better to do I've just sent a complaint to the Home Office. Lets see what they say (at some point within the next 15 days)
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