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

eddie904

Thanks dzug1

I have checked the esta form online and you do not need to enter any travel plans/arrangements so this can be done anytime.

i have also looked at the us embasy site and tried the 'Consular Affairs Visa Waiver Wizard' and it says 'Have you ever been arrested or convicted for any reason in any country, even if the arrest did not lead to a conviction, or do you have a criminal record? Please note: the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act does not apply to U.S. visa law. If you are unsure, press YES'. If you press YES then you need to apply for a visa, looked at the visa application and it asks for specific dates and addresses etc to be included on the form, but that would mean that you would need to make bookings and then just hope that you get eveything sorted in time. seems a hell of a lot of hassle and stress - almost puts you off thinking about a visit.

If they require you to apply and pay for an ACRO....then are they relying on honesty, can they check your details without your consent?

It was only drunk and disorderly, i know lots of people around my age who have the same - this must affect many thousands of people who are considering a trip to usa.

If i was to fill in the online esta and i was approved, would there be any complications later, or could you argue that according to the definitions it is not a crime involving moral turpitude.

Eddie

AmberNicotine

Drunk and Disorderly is not deemed a CiMT. No-one except the US can catagorically NOT call it moral turpitude however, even though previous case law deems it as not being so. There may be a specific aspect of the offence you committed that would deem it as a CiMT, No one here is an judge, or has seen the full details of your case to guesstimate further.

Drunk aspect of the crime can lead to concerns regarding the misuse of alcohol as alcoholism is deemed to be a medical condition of concern.

Any crime involving alcohol requires a visit to the "consulates" doctor if it occured in the past 3 years, or if 2 crimes involving alcohol ALWAYS requires a medical check.

Easiest way for you to go about this is to tick no, as its more than likely its not a CiMT, and NOT to deny any arrest if specifically asked at the border.

dzug1

eddie904 wrote: »

i have also looked at the us embasy site and tried the 'Consular Affairs Visa Waiver Wizard' and it says 'Have you ever been arrested or convicted for any reason in any country, even if the arrest did not lead to a conviction, or do you have a criminal record?

That's because the US Embassy are being ultra cautious. They do not trust the UK public to decide whether their crimes are moral turpitude or not, so they say 'let us decide'. In order for 'us to decide', you must pay us $100 (or whatever it is) and apply for a visa.

You are perfectly entitled under US law to make your own decision and make your own declaration by applying for a visa waiver if you are sure you are eligible.

I'd say it was a money making scam on the part of the Embassy - except it's more likely paranoia about being blamed for hordes of British tourists being refused entry because they misunderstood the real rules.

jay20043

Hi Guys,

Hopefully you can all help me, i've had a quick whizz through the 32 pages but cant fnd the answer to my question.

Im getting married in June, and without thinking i booked the honeymoon in my married name.

Can i do the ESTA form before i get married and put the passport start date as my wedding date which is what my passport will say or do i wait up on the night before my wedding and fill it out then.

We get married on the Saturday and fly on the Tuesday.

I haven't changed my passport yet, i know it would be easier to change my travel booking but its £75 just to change a name.

Sorry for the waffle!!

Jayne

ferf1223

jay20043 wrote: »

Can i do the ESTA form before i get married and put the passport start date as my wedding date which is what my passport will say or do i wait up on the night before my wedding and fill it out then.

We get married on the Saturday and fly on the Tuesday.

I haven't changed my passport yet, i know it would be easier to change my travel booking but its £75 just to change a name.

Sorry for the waffle!!

Jayne

Sorry, but you can't apply for the ESTA on a post-dated passport - you can only apply with a passport that is valid at the time of the application.

There's a thread about the same thing here that might help.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=2284999

jay20043

Thanks Ferf1223,

looks like i will be traveling in my madien name.

I'll give the ta a call now.

Thanks again

shanejago

I recently returned from Florida. I followed all the panic ESTA instructions, so duly completed the ESTA application online and for my wife and children, which took 30 minutes. Whilst flying on Virgin to Orlando on 17 Feb 2010 was confronted during the flight by the old green I-94 form. I explained that I did not need that as I had already completed the ESTA online. No was the reply, 'you need both'. When going through immigration later that day the I-94 was stamped as usual, and I produced the ESTA. IT WAS NOT REQUIRED. 'We don't need that, we haven't adopted that form yet'.

hansi

I believe it's being phased in during this year and you won't have to complete the green form for much longer.

ferf1223

shanejago wrote: »

I recently returned from Florida. I followed all the panic ESTA instructions, so duly completed the ESTA application online and for my wife and children, which took 30 minutes. Whilst flying on Virgin to Orlando on 17 Feb 2010 was confronted during the flight by the old green I-94 form. I explained that I did not need that as I had already completed the ESTA online. No was the reply, 'you need both'. When going through immigration later that day the I-94 was stamped as usual, and I produced the ESTA. IT WAS NOT REQUIRED. 'We don't need that, we haven't adopted that form yet'.

It's been widely reported that the I-94 is still being required though it is being phased out and some have recently said they did not have to complete the I-94 - that doesn't mean that you do not need to register with ESTA before you fly. Also ESTAs are held electronically - it will not need to be produced (though it can't hurt to have a copy of course).

alanrowell

shanejago wrote: »

I recently returned from Florida. I followed all the panic ESTA instructions, so duly completed the ESTA application online and for my wife and children, which took 30 minutes. Whilst flying on Virgin to Orlando on 17 Feb 2010 was confronted during the flight by the old green I-94 form. I explained that I did not need that as I had already completed the ESTA online. No was the reply, 'you need both'. When going through immigration later that day the I-94 was stamped as usual, and I produced the ESTA. IT WAS NOT REQUIRED. 'We don't need that, we haven't adopted that form yet'.

The ESTA is an electronic form, you don't have to produce anything as they know from your passport if you have an ESTA or no. Currently you have to have fill in both ESTA and I-94W (not I-94)

And to make it clear - ESTA IS A LEGAL REQUIREMENT if you fly through or to the US. No ESTA, no entry. If you are lucky it's found out before you fly. If you aren't lucky then you get to spend time being treated as a criminal by the US authorities before you are kicked out of the US, if you are really unlucky (no flight home that day) you get to spend time in a US jail - which means shackles as you are transported to & from said jail.

So to repeat GET AN ESTA - and get it before about June when the US authorities start charging for it