ESTA expiry date

GibbsRule_No3.

Might be going to US soon, checked my travel insurance, that was still fine date wise. Then checked my ESTA it runs out on the day I leave the US. Is it correct that ESTA as a 90 day after expiry date, so long as it is valid on the start date? Would it be safer to buy a new one, if that is possible, or does it tell me I have a current one? Month to go before I need to know

heatherw_01

It needs to be valid for the day you arrive, so it is fine.

It doesn't matter if it expires while you are there: https://www.help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-1883?language=en_US

The ESTA doesn't expire after 90 days, the expiry is shown on the ESTA itself. You can stay for a maximum of 90 days on a ESTA in the USA.

(Edited my post to remove part of my answer as you have since edited your post to correct what you meant about the 90 day stay, so my reply was no longer correct)

GibbsRule_No3.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82050573#Comment_82050573

I misread the 90 days, it actually said you CANNOT stay for 90 days even with an ESTA.

heatherw_01

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82051866#Comment_82051866

For duration of the trip, you can stay in the USA a maximum of 90 days on an ESTA. You can stay 90 days, just not 91.

All of this is stated on the ESTA website: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/faq?lang=en

Only use that site, do not ever buy from another site as there are many scammers.

GibbsRule_No3.

UPDATE

So today, a month before my ESTA runs out I received an email letting me now it was due to run out and asking me to apply for a new ESTA if I was planning to travel to the US. Having been told the ESTA was valid, I did wonder if it would let me apply, throughout the process I was expecting it to tell me I had a current ESTA. I submitted, was still expecting a “NO” but have received confirmation I have a new ESTA valid until 2028. PPOV to me I am happier to know I have a new ESTA even if the old one would have worked for this trip. Peace of mind more important to me than losing a month off the new ESTA.

jimjames

Peace of mind more important to me than losing a month off the new ESTA.

Although in reality it's a lot more than a month unless you are getting a new ESTA immediately. More likely that you'd wait until your next holiday so might have lost over a year of it not a month.

GibbsRule_No3

jimjames, I know I will be going again this year. No idea when, bit like this trip, it happens suddenly. To me it probably is worth the two months or so, that I might not have needed it. Good information for others though, if they are happy to wait.