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

Nubber99

Look out for sites charging for ESTA's.

here's one - usa-esta-auth.com

And there are more. This one want's £25. Don't use it!

The official US response to being charged for an ESTA is here - help.cbp.gov/cgi-bin/customs.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1164&p_created=1259790211&p_sid=I9kgG3Xj&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_srch=1&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9MzEsMzEmcF9wcm9kcz0wJnBfY2F0cz0wJnBfcHY9JnBfY3Y9JnBfcGFnZT0xJnBfc2VhcmNoX3RleHQ9ZXN0YQ!!&p_li=&p_topview=1

The official US website is here - esta.cbp.dhs.gov/

Sorry about not posting links - but as a new user I am not allowed to. Just copy and paste into your browser.

hansi

My current ESTA expires in August. Can I renew it now to avoid paying the charge, or do I have to wait till it expires?

chocolateteddy

We are going to orlando next feb 2011 but the childrens passports run out just less than six months later than our return by 4 days!!! so we are not risking it and will apply for new passports for them but I am not renewing them till oct/nov
(I know you can have 9 months added on so we will only lose about a month or two but better safe than sorry with the christmas deluge of post!)

My question is if there are starting to charge for esta's this year can I fill in the forms now using their old passport numbers then update once they have their new ones or do I have to wait until I have their new ones, trying to avoid charge to true MSE style!!

luci

hansi wrote: »

My current ESTA expires in August. Can I renew it now to avoid paying the charge, or do I have to wait till it expires?

You can apply for a new one now and it will supersede the old one.

luci

chocolateteddy wrote: »

We are going to orlando next feb 2011 but the childrens passports run out just less than six months later than our return by 4 days!!! so we are not risking it and will apply for new passports for them but I am not renewing them till oct/nov
(I know you can have 9 months added on so we will only lose about a month or two but better safe than sorry with the christmas deluge of post!)

My question is if there are starting to charge for esta's this year can I fill in the forms now using their old passport numbers then update once they have their new ones or do I have to wait until I have their new ones, trying to avoid charge to true MSE style!!

UK passports do not need to have 6 months validity left on them for entry to the US, they just need to be valid for the duration of the trip.

However if you still want to renew the passports, you will need to apply for new ESTA's once you get the new passport details.

chocolateteddy

luci wrote: »

UK passports do not need to have 6 months validity left on them for entry to the US, they just need to be valid for the duration of the trip.

However if you still want to renew the passports, you will need to apply for new ESTA's once you get the new passport details.

Thanks
I was told by the travel agent!! that passports needed to be valid for 6 months after date of return and not to risk it!! (and their always right aren't they;))
Anyone know if it is written anywhere if this is the case. I'd hate to go and have problems although not renewing them would save us £150 at least and no esta to pay for as we can do it now!!!:)

luci

Does my British passport have to be valid for six months beyond my date of departure from the United States?

No, if your passport is not valid for at least six months beyond your date of departure from the United States, it will not affect your eligibility to travel. The United States has an agreement with the United Kingdom automatically extending the validity of a passport for six months past the passport's expiration date. Therefore, your passport need remain valid only for the duration of your stay in the United States.

Taken from HERE

dzug1

chocolateteddy wrote: »

Thanks
I was told by the travel agent!! that passports needed to be valid for 6 months after date of return and not to risk it!! (and their always right aren't they;))

Travel agents always say 6 months to protect their backs. It means their staff don't have to know the rules for anywhere and can therefore never get it wrong by giving information for the wrong country

ferf1223

dzug1 wrote: »

Travel agents always say 6 months to protect their backs. It means their staff don't have to know the rules for anywhere and can therefore never get it wrong by giving information for the wrong country

Probably true. It's also an extremely common misconception - sure I've mentioned before, but the blind panic I went into after reading the 6 month thing in a major magazine (shortly before we were due to fly, with my husband's passport having less than 6 months left)...even though I KNEW I had checked it before, there it was in black and white and OMG what are we going to do?!

ferf1223

chocolateteddy wrote: »

Anyone know if it is written anywhere if this is the case. I'd hate to go and have problems although not renewing them would save us £150 at least and no esta to pay for as we can do it now!!!:)

Also here which is the US Embassy's site.

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/visa/niv/sixmonth.html

If you are a passport holder from anyone of the following countries, the requirement that your passport be valid for six months beyond your date of departure from the U.S. is waived.

Your passport must be valid on entry into the U.S. If the passport is not valid for the duration of your stay, you will be required to apply for a new passport from your Embassy while in the U.S. If your visit will be of short duration during which time your passport will expire, we recommend that you obtain a new passport before traveling as you will be admitted only until the date on which the passport expires. Such action before you depart for the U.S. will save you the inconvenience of applying not only for a new passport, but also an extension of stay.