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

luci

To be fair to LynnCatherine, her post was posted as a new topic and merged to this one so she didn't know this topic existed.

Agree however that a little research would have saved her £80.

LynnCatherine

Indeed - to be honest I never expected the subject of ESTA to be on this site - it was only when I was charged did I think to come to the site in the hope of helping others. I shall come to this site first thing in future. Thanks for your in depth response "dontdoit" and sticking up for me "luci".

BillTrac

markymoo wrote: »

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

again, you haven't answered the simple question.

Why bother with the ESTA as it does nothing in the big wide world of travel. I don't object to completing an online form, in fact it is easier. What I am asking, and you don't seem to grasp, is why? We are told we need to complete this--ok. It is supposed to replace the green Visa Waiver , but it doesn't. So the question is (and please don't respond with the crass " because they say so") what do they gain with the ESTA?

BillTrac

Marty_J wrote: »

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.

Apologies, I definately didn't mean to thank you for another post which doesn't answer the question. And actually my ESTA runs out next June as that is when my passport needs renewing.

What I asked was what is the point? Why should a form need completing when we still complete the old original green Visa Waiver which I was completing 30 years ago. What is the advantage to anyone ? USA or UK? I can't see what is gained. You say that the USA requires me to be pre-cleared. In that case the ESTA should have been sufficient. I shouldn't have had to complete yet another form which hasn't altered in all the years I have been travelling to the US. It isn't the form filling, but seriously, what is the point?

luci

BillTrac wrote: »

I shouldn't have had to complete yet another form which hasn't altered in all the years I have been travelling to the US. It isn't the form filling, but seriously, what is the point?

It most certainly has changed. It now asks for your mobile number and email address that it didn't ask for 12 months ago.

luci

Every time we've flown with an American carrier hubby hasn't been issued with his boarding passes at Aberdeen and has to collect them in London after being screened as he has the same name as someone on a wanted list.

However this year, after completing the ESTA, he received all his boarding passes no problem so I'm assuming he was pre-screened.

kate_down

LynnCatherine wrote: »

If you wish to apply online for an ESTA then go FOR FREE to: http:// esta full stop cdp full stop dhs full stop gov

Unfortunately I have just applied for 4 ESTA Applications via
www.ESTA-online.co.uk (" The US ESTA application website for UK passport holders visiting the USA"). They have charged me £20 per application i.e. £80! Outrageous!

Did you get your confirmation as I used that website last week for 3 ESTAs but have heard nothing back

GH

The whole ESTA thing is a waste of time. Arrived in JFK last week , it took over an hour and a half to get through immigration and everybody had to fill in a green form just like before. Then got the American "we'll treat you like a criminal" treatment with prints taken of all 10 fingers.

Marty_J

BillTrac wrote: »

Apologies, I definately didn't mean to thank you for another post which doesn't answer the question. And actually my ESTA runs out next June as that is when my passport needs renewing.

What I asked was what is the point? Why should a form need completing when we still complete the old original green Visa Waiver which I was completing 30 years ago. What is the advantage to anyone ? USA or UK? I can't see what is gained. You say that the USA requires me to be pre-cleared. In that case the ESTA should have been sufficient. I shouldn't have had to complete yet another form which hasn't altered in all the years I have been travelling to the US. It isn't the form filling, but seriously, what is the point?

Because ESTA will eventually replace the I-94W you fill out on the plane.

The US receives thousands and thousands of visitors a day. Changing admission procedures isn't as simple as stopping one at midnight one day, and starting the new system. The best way to do it is to run each concurrently.

shadowspy24

Thanks. i was looking for this. I am going next so i will apply in a couple of days. The number of websites trying to charge you $50 is ridiculous, i can only assume lots of people actually fall for it.