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

ToasterScheme

Well here's a funny one for you.

I had an approved ESTA from May 2010 and went to check it in August 2011 just before our holiday. Whichever way I tried to retrieve my application it came back "expired". (Not "not found"). I was sure it wasn't expired but thought hey ho and went to apply again. Right at the end it said "there's already an unexpired application against your passport number".

So is it expired or not?

I decided to ring the helpdesk (ring 001 202 344 3710 - don't bother with the number at the bottom of the ESTA site, you'll never get to the top of the queue) - and the officer said there was another application IN A DIFFERENT NAME against my passport number.

This apparently is not good - and would probably have caused my new application to be rejected. The officer eventually contacted Interpol in order to find out which is the correct name for the passport number, and decided that it was me. [Took a day].

So in the end its all OK, but I have had to pay for a new ESTA even though I already had a valid one. The new application cancelled it (of course I wasn't to know that) and it can't be recreated apparently.

The moral is don't leave this to the last minute!

bb69

hi there I already have an esta which expires next year. I travelled this year and will be going back in a few weeks. Do I need to input hotel info? I have already submitted advanced passenger info

thanks

claire16c

Bb69 - you can update it on the esta website if you wish.

photome

bb69 wrote: »

hi there I already have an esta which expires next year. I travelled this year and will be going back in a few weeks. Do I need to input hotel info? I have already submitted advanced passenger info

thanks

No you dont have to

luci

I updated the info the first few times, but haven't bothered the last few and have had no problems. The flight and hotel information isn't mandatory.

getmore4less

You never needed to put any info in the ESTA it's optional.

dzug1

You will be putting the info on the customs form you get given on the aircraft, so the US authorities still have it if they want it.

luci

dzug1 wrote: »

You will be putting the info on the customs form you get given on the aircraft, so the US authorities still have it if they want it.

The Customs form doesn't ask for any flight or accommodation info. It only asks for details of any items that might be restricted.

dzug1

luci wrote: »

The Customs form doesn't ask for any flight or accommodation info. It only asks for details of any items that might be restricted.

So what's this then:

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/sample_declaration_form.xml

Asks for US address and flight number

luci

Crikey, can't remember filling in those details. Must be in automatic pilot when I do it. I just remembered it seemed much quicker to do than the old I-94W. I stand corrected.