You must apply for an ESTA online to enter the USA after 12 Jan 2009

omelette451

MSE_Natasha wrote: »

Note from Martin: Outrageously if you don't have the web you can't get it.

Outrageously the only method for this new proceedure is online, so if you know someone without internet access, you may need to help them to register if they're making a trip to the US. It does seem bizarre that the US is effectively saying you need the internet to visit.

If you're not online at home there are plenty of libraries and internet cafes that offer web access. Many public sector departments now require people to apply for jobs online, even for the most lowly occupations, but the advertisements always point out alternative sources of internet access in case people don't have it themselves.

As for the people worried about 'convictions' and so on, the forms have always said that anyone who has been arrested (no mention is made of guilt or conviction) must apply for a visa. Indeed there was a recent case in the news where a man won a family holiday to the US in a radio competition but couldn't go because he had been accused of stealing an apple when he was 16 and there weren't any slots at the Embassy for interview that would allow him to get a visa in time.

Compound_2

omelette451 wrote: »

Indeed there was a recent case in the news where a man won a family holiday to the US in a radio competition but couldn't go because he had been accused of stealing an apple when he was 16 and there weren't any slots at the Embassy for interview that would allow him to get a visa in time.

Actually, the man was able to go in the end. A specialist US immigration law firm with offices in London confirmed that cases like this come under the 'petty offense exception'.
http://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/hucknall/Apple-man39s-NewYork-trip-is.4716365.jp
http://www.ortega-medina.com/criminal_inadmissibility_and_the_petty_offense_exception

zorber

Compound wrote: »

Actually, the man was able to go in the end. A specialist US immigration law firm with offices in London confirmed that cases like this come under the 'petty offense exception'.
http://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/hucknall/Apple-man39s-NewYork-trip-is.4716365.jp
http://www.ortega-medina.com/criminal_inadmissibility_and_the_petty_offense_exception

surely he would have been given a caution rather then a conviction, he would not have been put in front of a court for an apple.

also being 16 the conviction couldnt have been cared forward as a crimnal record as he was under the legal age, so i dont see what all the fuss is about.

jayemcee49

zorber wrote: »

surely he would have been given a caution rather then a conviction, he would not have been put in front of a court for an apple.

also being 16 the conviction couldnt have been cared forward as a crimnal record as he was under the legal age, so i dont see what all the fuss is about.

:mad: as far as my son was concerned he was set up but because the police took this seriously and arrested in order to interview this becomes red tape now and it's all logged

dzug1

omelette451 wrote: »

As for the people worried about 'convictions' and so on, the forms have always said that anyone who has been arrested (no mention is made of guilt or conviction) must apply for a visa. Indeed .

The forms DON'T say that and never have. The US Embassy in London peddles that over-generalisation because it's simpler than giving the full picture, and because a lot of people wouldn't understand it if they did.

The forms say that anyone who has been arrested (yes) or convicted of certain types of crime must apply for a visa. Not any crime.

Compound_2

I think the part about arrest is relevant for those with proceedings outstanding, to prevent criminals jumping bail. It may also apply to cautions, as this is an admission of guilt (though in these cases the crime may be too minor to count anyway). I don't think someone arrested and then found innocent would be ineligbile. Of course, someone arrested for a terrorist offence for which there was insufficient allowable evidence might be placed on a watch list which would cause them to be refused entry.

sarmia

Hi,

We travel in April and are about to fill in the online form. We dont have a printer though, should I do it at work or do you get a confirmation by email which I can print off at work tomorrow.
Thanks

dplumb

The yanks perhaps ought to read this article to see how flawed the technology they trust their borders with

Thursdays_child_3

We thought we would apply for ours tomorrow so does anybody know what you need to get out before you start please?

pennylane99

Thursdays_child wrote: »

We thought we would apply for ours tomorrow so does anybody know what you need to get out before you start please?

The form will ask you for:

Family Name
First Name
Date of Birth
Country of Citizenship
Male or Female
Country where you live
Passport Number
Passport Issuing Country
Passport Issuance Date
Passport Expiry Date

And then some yes or no questions

There are also some travel info boxes where you can enter flight number, address while in the US etc, but these are not compulsory

If you have been accepted you will be issued with a reference number.

They do not email any confirmation, so make a note of the reference number as you will need it at a later date if you need to return to the application when any information needs to be updated.

ESTA is not a guaranteed acceptance to enter the US, it merely tells you yes/no if you can board a plane to the US. The Border Control people have the say on whether you can enter.