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

peptoabysmal

So I had a bit of an odd experience with ESTA. I'm going to LA in a week, I applied for the ESTA about a month ago and it was approved. I didn't have access to a printer at the time, so I went on the ESTA site later to retrieve the confirmation which I then printed. Now, I wanted to update the address listed on the ESTA, but it tells me "No application found".

I'm 100% sure everything is typed in correctly, so it seems during the past 2 weeks my ESTA has disappeared from the system. Now I'm
not sure whether to reapply or if they're having issues with their system.

stoneman

peptoabysmal wrote: »

So I had a bit of an odd experience with ESTA. I'm going to LA in a week, I applied for the ESTA about a month ago and it was approved. I didn't have access to a printer at the time, so I went on the ESTA site later to retrieve the confirmation which I then printed. Now, I wanted to update the address listed on the ESTA, but it tells me "No application found".

I'm 100% sure everything is typed in correctly, so it seems during the past 2 weeks my ESTA has disappeared from the system. Now I'm
not sure whether to reapply or if they're having issues with their system.

If in doubt, re-apply, if there is a record of you then it will say so during the application process, if not then just carry on with the application, it is free after all

dzug1

peptoabysmal wrote: »

So I had a bit of an odd experience with ESTA. I'm going to LA in a week, I applied for the ESTA about a month ago and it was approved. I didn't have access to a printer at the time, so I went on the ESTA site later to retrieve the confirmation which I then printed. Now, I wanted to update the address listed on the ESTA, but it tells me "No application found".

I'm 100% sure everything is typed in correctly, so it seems during the past 2 weeks my ESTA has disappeared from the system. Now I'm
not sure whether to reapply or if they're having issues with their system.

It's possible you did not finally submit your application: (from ESTA FAQs):



I submitted an ESTA application, but when I try to retrieve it, I get a message "No application found" for that application number.
Answer You probably didn't finish completing the application. As soon as you saw the application number you may have thought you were done and didn't continue on to the next page which would give you your travel authorization status. You have to complete the application fully or it won't be registered in the ESTA system. Please reapply, and follow through to the travel authorization status page. Be sure to print out your application number before hitting next, so you have that number handy next time you want to update something.

Aquarius1980

HouseHuntr wrote: »

Sounds like a complete load of TROLL tosh to me !

Excuse me for trying to be helpful!

Just thought I'd share a recent experience (again - to be HELPFUL), but if for some reason you think I'm making this all up that's your problem.

Have you been to America recently to have your own input?

ferf1223

I hope I won't be considered a troll by posting this...

We flew out of LHR on 1st April, checked in at the American desk, no issue with ESTA - it's on my husband's passport record when the check-in guy scanned it. He said if it wasn't the computer wouldn't let him check us in and we'd have to go upstairs to the internet cafe and hope for the best. You don't need the print out other than for peace of mind - it's an electronic thing...that's what the E stands for after all. If it's not in the system, it doesn't matter that you have a print out of anything from what I understand...though I have no reason to think that if you have a print out it would not also be in the system.

We asked if my husband needed to fill out the I-94 (I never knew there was a W on the end) and the check in guy said 'no, LAX no longer require it - but all other US airports do at the moment'. So happy days.



Then we get on the plane and not long after we took off the flight attendants come down the aisle with the forms (including the green ones)...she gets to our row having handed out several green forms, I ask for a green form and she's run out and doesn't know if there are anymore. I asked if we would need to complete one as we were told at check-in that they were no longer required at LAX and she went into a thing about my husband's 'credentials' and that must be why he was told he didn't need one. My husband has no 'credentials'. So we thought, well, worst case scenario we pick one up when we land.

Shortly before landing they came on the PA to talk about landing procedures and said that anyone travelling on the VWP would NOT need to fill out the green form...I thought this was odd as the flight attendants handed them out earlier! But anyway...I assume that the flight crew do not always fly the same routes and if LAX is the sole exception, it doesn't surprise me that they handed out the forms as it's standard practice.

Get to immigration and don't need the green form...were told again that only LAX has phased them out (I am only repeating what I was told - I do not know if that is true).

We went onto Vegas and on the way home flew back via Chicago (which, clearly, is not LAX).

We get ready to board, I'm first and get about 3/4 of the way down the jetway to realise my husband is no longer behind me so I head back. Seems the gate agent is insisting he must have the green form stapled in his passport which they need to collect. Hubby has explained that no, we arrived at LAX where they no longer have them...then it was decided that he will have to fill out the green form again, and they will declare the first one as 'lost' (even though it never existed). But then the gate agent mentioned the situation to another agent - that we said we flew in via LAX and didn't have to fill in the form and the second gate agent said 'you know, other people have said that...it's OK, he can go through'.

So.

It's not really clear to many what the requirements are and is causing confusion...probably will until there is consistency at all airports. But ultimately, it's not like you don't have 5+ hours to fill out a little green form if presented with one, so you may as well just do it if you have the choice.

ferf1223

also - for anyone who doesn't have access to a printer and wants a printed copy of their ESTA details - either take a screen shot (ctrl-PrtScn) and paste into an email or Word or photo programme or whatever to print later or email to yourself to print elsewhere.

Or download a free pdf creator that will turn any webpage you're looking at into a pdf file which you can save or email to print later.

m4ndy1966

I booked with BA prior to the steike hitting and now my flight has been cancelled and I am rebooked with American Airlines so the flight number is different obviously. What do I do about the ESTA?!

Also I havent got the reference numbers if amendments are needed.

Help!

hansi

Did you not print it out? You need the refernce number (and it's a long one) to make any changes.

worldtraveller

m4ndy1966 wrote: »

I booked with BA prior to the steike hitting and now my flight has been cancelled and I am rebooked with American Airlines so the flight number is different obviously. What do I do about the ESTA?!

Also I havent got the reference numbers if amendments are needed.

Help!

There is no compulsion to give flight information, it's optional.

The ESTA Q&A section has the following advice:

2. Information about your email or street address, phone number, or the details of your travel is wrong or has changed.
You may update your information through the "Update or Check Status" button. Your ESTA authorization is valid for two years, no matter whether or not any of this type of information changes, and it is not required for you to provide us updates, but it is requested.

Therefore, provided your original application was approved, you should be fine, as it is not required to provide an update.

hansi

My ESTA expires in August. Is there an option to renew, or do I just start again from scratch?