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

CAHA

Have found all the threads on this subject most helpful. Have just got back having completed ESTA before hand and then as a precaution the Green Forms on the flight. Couple of observations. The BA crew were not aware and in fact passengers were informing them of the new procedures. It does beg the question that will the carriers be filtering out those passengers that have not completed ESTA before they allow them to board...? I am going to Arizona in February and am assuming that I am OK to travel without further ado...we shall see.

Simon_from_Salford

Chris,
I can beat your story. I was on an American carrier (Continental) last week and they weren't even sure if I needed a green visa waiver as I'd completed one on line. For safety they advised me to complete one which was good advice as like others here the immigration official at Newark wouldn't accept the on line form. One thing I've learnt with U.S. immigration is tow the line and be polite and even grovelling. If you start being cocky or assertive you're asking for it.

AbertRoss

We have recently returned from North America (October) and entered the USA from Canada at the Niagara Falls (Rainbow Bridge) International Crossing Point.

Although we had duly completed the ESTA forms, and had them approved, before departing the UK, the USA border officials knew nothing of the scheme, and consequently we had to join a long queue of people waiting to be issued with the usual Green Waiver form, and had to pay a $6 cash fee each for the privelege of being delayed for an hour.

Our return from the USA to Canada was trouble free as there were no US officials, and the Canadians collected our Visa Waiver form and sent us on our way in less than 2 minutes!

Albert Ross

AbertRoss

nzseries1 wrote: »

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?

Yes I Believe you do. I think there is a Q&A on the ESTA site which covers this

Police_Fan

:j The form is very easy to complete but it does ask for your flight number and address where you are staying in the US.

MSE_Natasha wrote: »

Updated 1 December '08

What's this about?

The days of filling out a Visa Waiver form on a plane for entry into the US are about to end. If you're travelling after 12 Jan '09 you'll need to fill in an online request to enter the States, at least three days before travelling, otherwise you'll be turned away at US immigration.

What to do

The application form is available right now on the ESTA's website. It's completely free, so beware of other sites implying there's a fee to pay.

Even if you're only considering going to the States at some point in the future, it's worth filling in the application before buying tickets...just on the off chance you're rejected and can't get your flight/hotel money back.

Each granted application lasts for two years or when your passport expires; whichever happens first. Then you must apply again.

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 to web to visit.

When we asked the reply we got was, "Thank you for your question. For those who don’t have access to the Internet, it’s best to contact a friend, family member, colleague or travel agent who is on line. Any of those folks are able to fill out the ESTA form on behalf of the traveler."

I would hate to think of, perhaps an older non-web user, needing to fly to a funeral. Sorry you're not on the internet....

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shopaholic84

I go on the 22nd December to USA, so hopefully i will be fine. Thanks for this though, very handy to know. xx

tightwadman

My wife and I have had some very bad experiences with US Customs officials and all incidents took place prior to 7/11 so they cant blame that incident for their frankly unbelievable behaviour. In 1992 we had real problems crossing over from Canada to the USA near Detroit. We were travelling with friends and our two daughters were only 6 and 4 at the time. They wanted us to open our cases and search the car and delayed us for at least an hour causing an obvious amount of worry. We both had full Visas in our passports. Eventually they just let us through.

In 1994 we flew into Sanford Orlando and as we had Visas we didnt need to complete the Visa waiver form - instead completing a white form. We were shocked and horrified when the Customs and Immigration official said we didnt need Visas any more and he proceeded to cross them both out and defaced them! As we had actually been put to a lot of time trouble and expense to obtain those Visas in the first place I was fuming but as someone has pointed out you cannot argue with these people.

Now it seems the Yanks do want us to have Visas but to get one now you have no choice but to go down to London to attend an interview to get your visa but if you go dont take mobile phones or even you car key fob with you as you wont be allowed into the embassy with those. It just gets madder and madder and I am already at the point of thinking... do I need this hassle any more when I am supposed to be having a relaxing holiday?

trets77

i think this system has been brought in so that people who will almost certainly get send back when they land in USA , don't get on the plane in the 1st place, thus saving immigration a lot of work ect.

this isn't a problem for people attempting to cross a land border as they just deny them entry if they cannot come in.

worldtraveller

Police_Fan wrote: »

:j The form is very easy to complete but it does ask for your flight number and address where you are staying in the US.

It's optional that you give that information, or not.

worldtraveller

nzseries1 wrote: »

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?

Yes.

Q: Do nationals or citizens of countries that participate in the VWP require an ESTA™ if they are only transiting the United States en route to another country?

[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman][FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]A: Yes. The United States no longer has a Transit Without Visa program, so eligible nationals or citizens of countries that participate in the VWP will require either an ESTA™ or a visa to transit the United States. If a traveler is only planning to transit through the United States en route to another country, when he or she completes the ESTA™ application, the traveler should enter the words "In Transit" and his or her final destination location in the address lines under the heading "Address While In The United States". [/FONT][/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ESTA (PDF FILE)[/FONT]