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

Jasper27_2

Does anyone have a contact email for any questions about the online application? I did it but now my flight details have changed. Unfortuntely I missed a digit when I wrote down my confirmation number so can't get back into my application. I did email the help link given on the application but never received a reply. As the flight info is optional I'm in two minds whether to just leave it or to make a whole new application.

FreebieLooker

do you really?

jgwa

The US Embassy site http://london.usembassy.gov/dhs/esta_info.html states "British citizens: please note that from 09 January 2009 all nationals and citizens of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries - including the UK - will be required by law to obtain a travel authorization prior to traveling to the United States under the VWP"

So which date is it? 9th or 12th! Is 9th the application date, 72 hours before 12th?

furrypig

Thanks for highlighting this Martin as we're off to the states in early Feb and I'll have to organise my parents!!

dzug1

AbertRoss wrote: »

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

The scheme will not apply to travellers arriving by land from Mexico or Canada - they will still fill in the form and pay $6, as they do now.

For air travellers the fee is paid indirectly by the airline in the 'taxes and fees' you pay.

voucherqueen_3

My husband may have two convictions on his record - one dating back 20 years and one dating back 13 years (helping his brother in a fight and being drunk at a football match). He is going to find out if they are still on his record and go to American Embassy in London to obtain a visa if they are.


Will this be enough or will he still have to fill in online form. If we fill in online form it will still mention have you committed an offence of moral turpitude and there is confusion in the definition of this.

dzug1

voucherqueen wrote: »

My husband may have two convictions on his record - one dating back 20 years and one dating back 13 years (helping his brother in a fight and being drunk at a football match). He is going to find out if they are still on his record and go to American Embassy in London to obtain a visa if they are.


Will this be enough or will he still have to fill in online form. If we fill in online form it will still mention have you committed an offence of moral turpitude and there is confusion in the definition of this.

The online form asks exactly the same questions as the paper one. It does (IIRC) give a link to a description of moral turpitude.

Neither of the two crimes you give are moral turpitude in my view. Drunkenness definitely not, fights not usually. It would be safe to tick the no box. Don't waste your money on a visa - all you are doing is paying the Embassy to tell you it's not moral turpitude, which you can do for free anyway.

voucherqueen_3

I'm really confused. My brother went through this when he went to Florida last year as he had a minor offence dating back 5 years. He ended up going to Glagow for a visa.

My husband has sent off for his criminal record sheet to see if anything is still listed (I thought minor offences were deleted after so many years) which I am sure is costing him around £40. I think we will see what is on that and take it from there. To apply in person for a visa is I am sure around another £40.

dzug1

voucherqueen wrote: »

I'm really confused. My brother went through this when he went to Florida last year as he had a minor offence dating back 5 years. He ended up going to Glagow for a visa.

My husband has sent off for his criminal record sheet to see if anything is still listed (I thought minor offences were deleted after so many years) which I am sure is costing him around £40. I think we will see what is on that and take it from there. To apply in person for a visa is I am sure around another £40.

Your brother was probably misled.

It depends on the offence. The US Embassy in the UK are rather ingenuous (or is it disingenuous?) on this - they in effect say that for ANY crime you must apply for a visa. This is because (rightly I guess) they don't trust the British public to decide whether a crime is moral turpitude or not, so they say apply for a visa anyway and let us decide.

A visa is $100 application fee - issued free if granted, no refund if not. Don't know how often they revise the exchange rates - last I heard it was £60 or so.

I don't see what the criminal record sheet has to do with it - as far as the US is concerned there is no time limit. They will still want to know about relevant crimes even if committed 60 years ago. OK they will probably ignore them, but they want to know.

KayJ066

Im going to NYC in March 09 for the first time (and my first time to the states), so i will have to fill one of these out aswell?