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

M4RKM

you need to go back into the esta site, and update it with the new details... obviously, you're on a different flight, and staying somewhere different..

you need your existing esta number, and also your passport number and DOB, it takes about 30 seconds to update...

M

dawudm

OK, so I filled out an ESTA form and was approved.

I couldn't print out the approved letter as I don't have a printer.

I went to the travel agents and tried logging in their but I wrote the application number wrong!!!

The travel agent informed me to apply again and I was approved again and this time copied the approved letter and done a few test log ins to see if I had the right code.

However, I found out that you have to wait 10 days to re-apply? But with my second application on the same day, I was approved.

Whats the deal with this anyone, anyone willing to help?

Thanks!!

BillTrac

What a complete and utter waste of time the ESTA is.

Completed both ours before travelling. Was still given the green visa waiver form as well as the customs form on the Virgin flight over, and no-one at McCarren airport was the slightest bit interested in the ESTA. I had printed them both off just in case there was any confusion. Could have saved myself time, ink and paper.

docij

Same experience for us. Have just come back from NY and filled in the ESTA online. The the airport we were given the green form to complete so I showed the ESTA form but was told the green form still had to be filled in. Inland security at JFK went through the usual process with us and stapled the tear off green form to our passports. It does make me suspicious about the purpose of the ESTA.

hansi

luci wrote: »

Immigation asked if I had an ESTA at LAX a couple of weeks ago. I asked if he wanted to see it and he said he didn't need to as he could see I had one on his screen.

So why did he ask you if he could see you had one

love_the_messenger

How do these ESTA people decide instantly whether to approve you or not? Do they check your passport's valid? What else? That you're not related to bin Laden?

Marty_J

BillTrac wrote: »

What a complete and utter waste of time the ESTA is.

Completed both ours before travelling. Was still given the green visa waiver form as well as the customs form on the Virgin flight over, and no-one at McCarren airport was the slightest bit interested in the ESTA. I had printed them both off just in case there was any confusion. Could have saved myself time, ink and paper.

I'm sure the US government will consider your stationery supplies before making any new laws.

Anyhow, the US C&BP website states that "U.S. Regulation does NOT require a Visa Waiver Program traveler to present a printed copy of the ESTA authorization page in order to travel."

M4RKM

It will show on the screen when they swipe your passport whether you have an ESTA or not. If you haven't they are well within their rights to put you on the flight straight back home.

Whether they need to see it, isn't the point. it's making sure you're eligible to travel under the visa waiver system

you then fill in your visa waiver form on the plane, and hand it in to immigration.

the esta is a pre authorisation to make sure you are allowed to use the I95-W - or, the green form as you call it

SimonVeness

The latest info from the US on the use (and long-term importance) of the ESTA requirement is that it WILL, eventually, replace the I-94W form (but NOT the white Customs form) but only when they have a suitable method for checking people OUT of the country as well as in.

At the moment, the tear-off part of the I-94W (that is usually stapled inside your passport) is the only check that the US immigration authorities have that the user has left the country according to the terms of the visa waiver form (i.e. within 90 days). However, they are trialling two new ways to do this and will (eventually!) decide on the best way to proceed. As ever, these things move VERY slowly, hence you shouldn't count on ESTA replacing the green forms anytime soon.

M4RKM

I remember for a couple of years, they had US-VISIT Exit that was a thing that printed off a little slip of paper that had 3-d barcodes on..

You swiped your passport, and it took your photo, and it was to register you were exiting the USA. This was a trial understandably, and was at PHL airport.

They got rid of it the next time I hit PHL airport, i did it twice, but only 2 months apart from each other...

M