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

BillTrac

Marty_J wrote: »

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."

Your point is?

I knew that you don't have to present the ESTA. I am not completely dim. MY point was why did I bother filling the form in the first place.

M4RKM

Because it is the rules. It's like asking why you have to have a passport!!

Because they want to know that you are wanting to come to the USA.

Immigration in every country have rules. If it weren't for the visa waiver, we'd have to have visas to go to the USA, and that would add more money onto costs, and also be time consuming.

Other countries have visas, so we're kinda lucky that the USA has the Waiver Programme in place, so we don't have to spend money on visas if you are within the rules, and questions they ask.

BillTrac

markymoo wrote: »

Because it is the rules. It's like asking why you have to have a passport!!

Because they want to know that you are wanting to come to the USA.

Immigration in every country have rules. If it weren't for the visa waiver, we'd have to have visas to go to the USA, and that would add more money onto costs, and also be time consuming.

Other countries have visas, so we're kinda lucky that the USA has the Waiver Programme in place, so we don't have to spend money on visas if you are within the rules, and questions they ask.

Oh OK it's the rules. So what? Still not answering my question. And no it isn't like needing a passport. If I have a passport I don't have to have a second one.We keep being told we need to complete an ESTA, but the US still have us running around like little rats at their beck and call jumping through hoops for sweet fa.

Either use the ESTA or don't. That is all I am saying. If they want me to complete another peice of info then at leats have the decency to use the damn thing.

sneakyg

will the esta be able to check if you have a conviction? i have a friend who is travelling to NY with me who has one conviction and is considering just declaring NO on the forms

M4RKM

ok, so don't use the ESTA, you don't need to, you can go down and just pay for a visa...

free or money... free or money... up to yourself really..


M

M4RKM

sneakyg wrote: »

will the esta be able to check if you have a conviction? i have a friend who is travelling to NY with me who has one conviction and is considering just declaring NO on the forms

is the conviction for a crime of moral turpitude?! that's the question... not, do you have a conviction, so there are cases where you can answer no on the form, and it is the right answer..

whether they can check, i don't know..

M

Marty_J

BillTrac wrote: »

Your point is?

I knew that you don't have to present the ESTA. I am not completely dim. MY point was why did I bother filling the form in the first place.

Because US law mandates that people seeking to enter on the VWP are pre-cleared for entry first. If you don't like it, don't go to the US. Simple.

Or alternatively, in 2 years when your ESTA authorisation runs out, don't bother applying again, and present yourself at a US POE as a form of protest.

Be sure to let us know what happens.

I know it seems amazing that Johnny Foreigner can decide the process for entering their country, but alas, that's the world we live in.

sneakyg

markymoo wrote: »

is the conviction for a crime of moral turpitude?! that's the question... not, do you have a conviction, so there are cases where you can answer no on the form, and it is the right answer..

whether they can check, i don't know..

M

can you explain abit more please marky

alanrowell

dontdoit wrote: »

According to some immigration lawyers, you can arrive at the point of entry in the US with the memorandum of conviction, and or the Police National Computer printout, a copy of the UK and a copy of the US law and argue the point there. Its a risky strategy as US Immigration (although they may/will know general CiMTs) are not immigration lawyers and should/may err on the side of caution in close calls.

Except that if you use the Visa Waiver Program you give up your right to "argue the toss" so it's down to what the guy at immigration decides and you have no right of appeal regardless of what the law or your evidence says

vulcanbomber

I am trying to help my parents who both live in the UK and have done for very many years, however they both have Irish passports as Ireland is the place of their birth. (They don't have access to a PC)

I am confused as to when entering the country of residence on the application it lists several different options for living in the UK, can anyone tell me which is the correct option please.

The options given are:
British Citizen (GBR)
British DTC (GBD)
British national (GBN)
British Overseas (GBO)
BritishSubject (GBS)
British protected Person (GBP)

Many thanks