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

wingooner

Do you need to go back and enter you flight details and adddress details everytime you travel? Its not clear from their help page?

What would happen if you didn't?

wingooner

wingooner wrote: »

Do you need to go back and enter you flight details and adddress details everytime you travel? Its not clear from their help page?

What would happen if you didn't?

I just read here. http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/travel/id_visa/esta/about_esta/esta_faq.ctt/esta_faq.pdf


"Q: Can prospective travelers apply for an ESTA™ without specific travel plans if they want to be able to travel to the United States later on short notice?
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman][FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]A: Yes. VWP travelers are not required to have specific plans to travel to the United States before they apply for an ESTA™. VWP travelers are not required to complete the travel itinerary and destination details before submitting an ESTA™ application. If a traveler’s destination address in the United States is unknown when he or she completes the ESTA™ application, the traveler may enter the name of the hotel or approximate location he or she intends to visit. Travelers may update this information when their plans are finalized, but they will not be required to update their destination addresses or itineraries should they change after their ESTA™ has been approved. DHS recommends that ESTA™ applications be submitted as early as possible, as soon as, or even before travel is planned. ESTA™ will accept applications from last minute and emergency travelers – those VWP travelers that arrive at the airport without an approved ESTA™. "[/FONT]
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buzwad

I had the same experience as unclementy and wearside, in that I went to the US (Los Angeles) in early September. I thought that I might be able to help the immigration staff/save time for the queue but it seems the "optional" part between August and January is the INS's option not to use this information system!!

Perhaps I/we/someone should write to the website authors to point this out to them... surely such a bureaucratic system must follow it's own bureaucracy (or perhaps that is the point of bureaucracy? :rotfl:)

buzwad

buzwad wrote: »

I had the same experience as unclementy and wearside, in that I went to the US (Los Angeles) in early September. I thought that I might be able to help the immigration staff/save time for the queue but it seems the "optional" part between August and January is the INS's option not to use this information system!!

Perhaps I/we/someone should write to the website authors to point this out to them... surely such a bureaucratic system must follow it's own bureaucracy (or perhaps that is the point of bureaucracy? :rotfl:)

I just had another thought about this common situation - the appications that have been submitted already, but not used by the INS - I hope that these are still valid for 2 years from issue...

steveo3002

ive filled out the form and been accepted for jan 16th travel

is there any mention of needing to take a print out as i dont own a printer?

ive got the ref number written down , i was assuming when they scan the passport it will just show up?

wingooner

steveo3002 wrote: »

ive filled out the form and been accepted for jan 16th travel

is there any mention of needing to take a print out as i dont own a printer?

ive got the ref number written down , i was assuming when they scan the passport it will just show up?

From the same document I mentioned earlier.

Q: Do VWP travelers need to bring a paper printout of their ESTA™ approval to the airport?

[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman][FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]A: No. However, DHS recommends that travelers print out the ESTA™ application response in order to maintain a record of their ESTA™ application number and to have confirmation of their ESTA™ status. [/FONT]
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dzug1

Happy_saver wrote: »

I have a ten year US multiple entry visa stamped in my passport as I make extended visits to America. Do I therefore have to complete a visa waiver entry form?

I think when I normally enter the US by a common carrier I normally complete a white entry card/form whereas people on a short term vacations (less than 30 days) completed a green card/form. Does this still apply?

No - the system for you is unchanged. You still complete the white card and do not have to fill in the online form

alanrowell

hansi wrote: »

It's very simple. When it's authorised, just print it out!

So if I lose it before the application is authorised? Or I make another trip to the US several months later and can't find the piece of paper...

The point being is that there are many circumstances when you could lose the application number and have no means of recalling it - unlike say your email address / date of birth / passport number.

I can't recall any other on-line system where if you don't have access to one piece of information, you can't use it and have no means of obtaining it again

nzseries1

Sorry if this is obvious to some people... but it's not to me, what if you're just changing planes in the USA en route to another country? Do you need to fill out one of these online thingamajigs?

vivatifosi

unclemonty wrote: »

I picked this up a few weeks ago, and read on the website that it's optional between August this year and January. So as I was travelling to the states last month I thought I would save some hassle and time and apply online.

I got accepted, however when I arrived in the USA, I was told it wasn't valid until January and still had to fill in one of the Green Forms. :mad:

So if you are traveling in December and early Jan, just fill in the form on the plane.

We had the same issue when we travelled last month. We're going back in January and the immigration officials we met last month couldn't tell us whether the one we'd already filled out will be valid then or whether it was a trial and we have to start over. Anyone else know?