Reminder for the Summer: ESTAs for USA

securityguy

Just a reminder for those going to the US this summer: get your Esta in plenty of time (they're valid for two years) and make sure you use the actual US government site, https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov, and not some scam "we do nothing extra but charge you extra" site. The form is getting longer and longer (it now wants your parents, your employment and a few other new things from when I last got one two years ago) and in particular it wants your passport issue date (I have a speadsheet of all the family information but didn't have issuing date, as I haven't been asked for it before).

If there is some problem with getting an Esta, your travel insurance will not pay out, so it is as well to get one as early as possible in the cancellation timeline for your holiday.

SW17

danielthomark wrote: »

Have you traveled to, or been present in Iraq, Syria, Iran, or Sudan on or after March 1, 2011?

May be problematic to some, as the last military personnel left Iraq in May 2011 and will now require a visa.

No, they won't require a visa in most cases. The restrictions regarding travel to those countries do not apply to those on military/government service for VWP countries. See below quote (my bold) and link to the full changes:

http://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/visa-waiver-program/visa-waiver-program-improvement-and-terrorist-travel-prevention-act-faq

Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)
What are the new eligibility requirements for VWP travel?

Under the Act, travelers in the following categories are no longer eligible to travel or be admitted to the United States under the VWP:

Nationals of VWP countries who have been present in Iraq, Syria, or countries listed under specified designation lists (currently including Iran and Sudan) at any time on or after March 1, 2011 (with limited government/military exceptions).
Nationals of VWP countries who are also nationals of Iraq, Syria, Iran, or Sudan.

These restrictions do not apply to VWP travelers whose presence in Iraq, Syria, Iran, or Sudan was to perform military service in the armed forces of a program country, or in order to carry out official duties as a full-time employee of the government of a program country. These military and official government services exceptions, however, do not apply to the dual national restriction. We recommend those who have traveled to the four countries listed above for military/official purposes bring with them appropriate documentation when traveling through a U.S. port of entry.

mickey234

securityguy wrote: »

............they're valid for two years

If your passport expiries in less than two years the Expiry date of the ESTA will be the same date as your Passport Expiry date ie Not always 2 years validity.

cubegame

Not the best of advice to get one in plenty of time. Authorisation is pretty much instant so doing it more than a couple of days in advance is just wasting your validity period.

shaun_from_Africa

cubegame wrote: »

Not the best of advice to get one in plenty of time. Authorisation is pretty much instant so doing it more than a couple of days in advance is just wasting your validity period.

"pretty much instant" but this isn't always the case.
As an ESTA is $14 / £9.50 (or slightly less than 80p per month), is it really worth waiting until the last moment in order to save what will be a fraction of 1 percent of the total holiday cost?

PeacefulWaters

cubegame wrote: »

Not the best of advice to get one in plenty of time. Authorisation is pretty much instant so doing it more than a couple of days in advance is just wasting your validity period.

My first ESTA took three working days to come through.

And if an ESTA application is rejected, good luck getting an embassy appointment for a visa 48 hours before you fly.

Allow four months. £10 to protect your trip is peanuts.

cubegame

Well 72 hours is the recommended time suggested by the US, who also state most authorisations are instant.

It would be better advice to suggest that those who think they won't get an ESTA don't book before making sure they can get one.

gettingtheresometime

cubegame wrote: »

Well 72 hours is the recommended time suggested by the US, who also state most authorisations are instant.

It would be better advice to suggest that those who think they won't get an ESTA don't book before making sure they can get one.

The way the US authorities think these days it's not whether the person thinks they won't get an esta that matters.

I'm half expecting the US to start asking for shoe sizes soon

PeacefulWaters

cubegame wrote: »

Well 72 hours is the recommended time suggested by the US, who also state most authorisations are instant.

It would be better advice to suggest that those who think they won't get an ESTA don't book before making sure they can get one.

No. It would be better advice to ensure you have an ESTA or a visa before booking. Or at least time to get a visa if declined an ESTA. Which will happen if you inadvertently answer just one question incorrectly.

Losing £2 worth of value from an ESTA to provide this safety net really is a no brainer.

PompeyPete

Glad I got ours in plenty of time. Something less to tick off.

pollypenny

OH has always had his ESTAs instantly. Mine have been 'pending', which was very worrying the first time.

OH has a new passport and mine runs out soon, so it's a job for this week, in fact. We plan to go,to the USA in August, an expensive babysit!