ESTA - Q & A's (Merged)
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ESTA - Q & A's (Merged)
The media suggests that only about two thirds of the expected number of people have fillied in the necessary forms and those who haven't might be refused travel over the next three days...
US visa warning for Brits - mirror.co.uk
Brits In Usa Ban - The Sunday Mail
Might be a lot of people at airports tomorrow trying to fill forms or worse reschedule flights.
US visa warning for Brits - mirror.co.uk
Under new rules, Britons travelling to the States on the visa waiver scheme must fill in an online travel authorisation form at least 72 hours before.
Those who have not registered are likely to be sent home, the Foreign Office warned last night.
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Just to clarify, it's 72 hours before the first time you travel after 12th January 2009 . After that, you don't need to fill in the online form for two years. It's basically an electronic version of the Visa waiver form.
Also, if you have any type of US visa, you don't need to fill out the online form.
Despite having filled this form out online, you will still need to fill out a normal waiver form before arrival.
I'm flying to Chicago on Tuesday. Can't wait to see the fun 'n games at LHR.
Also, if you have any type of US visa, you don't need to fill out the online form.
Despite having filled this form out online, you will still need to fill out a normal waiver form before arrival.
I'm flying to Chicago on Tuesday. Can't wait to see the fun 'n games at LHR.
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From the Daily Telegraph. Last Updated: 3:21PM GMT 06 Jan 2009
From Monday, all British citizens travelling to the United States by air or by sea must fill out an online Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) at least 72 hours before departure. The permit is free – beware of companies advertising on the internet that charge for it.
An approved ESTA is valid for two years and can be used for multiple entries into the US. For each new visit you must update, online, information about your flights and where you are staying. You don’t have to fill in the accommodation section before arrival in the US
if you are on a fly-drive holiday. However, the immigration officer will ask for the address and telephone number of a hotel for the first night (even if you haven’t booked anywhere), so have a name ready. If you are staying with friends and relatives, you will be asked for their full address (with postcode) and telephone number.
If you don’t have internet access, the US Embassy suggests you ask a computer-literate friend, a librarian, or a travel agent to process the application. Only travellers entering the US overland from Canada or Mexico will continue to fill in the old green I-94 visa-waiver forms.
The ESTA website can be found at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov or by clicking on a link from www.usembassy.org.uk.
From Monday, all British citizens travelling to the United States by air or by sea must fill out an online Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) at least 72 hours before departure. The permit is free – beware of companies advertising on the internet that charge for it.
An approved ESTA is valid for two years and can be used for multiple entries into the US. For each new visit you must update, online, information about your flights and where you are staying. You don’t have to fill in the accommodation section before arrival in the US
if you are on a fly-drive holiday. However, the immigration officer will ask for the address and telephone number of a hotel for the first night (even if you haven’t booked anywhere), so have a name ready. If you are staying with friends and relatives, you will be asked for their full address (with postcode) and telephone number.
If you don’t have internet access, the US Embassy suggests you ask a computer-literate friend, a librarian, or a travel agent to process the application. Only travellers entering the US overland from Canada or Mexico will continue to fill in the old green I-94 visa-waiver forms.
The ESTA website can be found at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov or by clicking on a link from www.usembassy.org.uk.
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From 12th January 2009 it will not be necessary to fill an I-94W form as well as ESTA - ESTA is mandatory, the I-94W form is only required as well if the passenger is arriving on a carrier that isn't able to validate passenger's ESTA status as part of the boarding procedure (and obviously those carriers will issue I-94W forms onboard the aircraft)
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Virgin advise that "for the foreseeable future" they still require you to fill in the waiver form as normal.
Hello Strake and Happy New Year!
We are sure this has been brought to your attention already, however we
thought a quick reminder may prove useful!
Each time you fly out to the US, you’ll be used to completing the green
Visa Waiver form if you do not have a visa, well now the US Customs and Border Protection will soon
be introducing an automated system to determine if a passenger is eligible
to visit the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The
Electronic System For Travel Authorisation (ESTA) was introduced as a
voluntary scheme from 01 August 2008 however this will become mandatory for
travel on 12 January 2009 and passengers should be advised to apply for one
if travelling on/after this date.
Passengers travelling to the US under the Visa Waiver Programme may now apply in advance of travel for a travel
authority using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) website.
Once granted, a travel authority is valid for two years. Before each new trip to the US, you must update your travel
plans and address details via the ESTA website. It is your responsibility to make the application and to ensure that
you have a valid travel authority before you travel.
From 12 January 2009, all Visa Waiver nationals (unless they have a visa or residency card) will only be able to
travel if they have a confirmed travel authority via the ESTA website. Department of Homeland Security recommend
passengers should apply for a travel authority at least 72 hours before departure. In usual circumstances a response
(ESTA granted or denied) is given in seconds. For a small minority of passengers the decision will take up to 72
hours. If an ESTA is denied then passengers must obtain a visa for your journey.
From 12 January 2009, we cannot fly any passenger to the US until either a travel authority has been granted, or the
passenger provides a visa or residency card. The travel authorisation can be obtained by the passenger visiting a
customs and Border Protection ( CBP ) website and making an application, we have included a link below for your
convenience :
https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/
For the foreseeable future all passengers will still be required to
complete the Visa Waiver Form (I-94W) and their Advance Passenger
Information (API) as normal even though they have received ESTA clearance.
Kind regards
XXXXX
Personal Account Executive
PAMS (Personal Account Management Service )
Virgin Atlantic Airways - The Office (GNW) , Manor Royal ,Crawley
West Sussex.RH10 9NU
Hello Strake and Happy New Year!
We are sure this has been brought to your attention already, however we
thought a quick reminder may prove useful!
Each time you fly out to the US, you’ll be used to completing the green
Visa Waiver form if you do not have a visa, well now the US Customs and Border Protection will soon
be introducing an automated system to determine if a passenger is eligible
to visit the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The
Electronic System For Travel Authorisation (ESTA) was introduced as a
voluntary scheme from 01 August 2008 however this will become mandatory for
travel on 12 January 2009 and passengers should be advised to apply for one
if travelling on/after this date.
Passengers travelling to the US under the Visa Waiver Programme may now apply in advance of travel for a travel
authority using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) website.
Once granted, a travel authority is valid for two years. Before each new trip to the US, you must update your travel
plans and address details via the ESTA website. It is your responsibility to make the application and to ensure that
you have a valid travel authority before you travel.
From 12 January 2009, all Visa Waiver nationals (unless they have a visa or residency card) will only be able to
travel if they have a confirmed travel authority via the ESTA website. Department of Homeland Security recommend
passengers should apply for a travel authority at least 72 hours before departure. In usual circumstances a response
(ESTA granted or denied) is given in seconds. For a small minority of passengers the decision will take up to 72
hours. If an ESTA is denied then passengers must obtain a visa for your journey.
From 12 January 2009, we cannot fly any passenger to the US until either a travel authority has been granted, or the
passenger provides a visa or residency card. The travel authorisation can be obtained by the passenger visiting a
customs and Border Protection ( CBP ) website and making an application, we have included a link below for your
convenience :
https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/
For the foreseeable future all passengers will still be required to
complete the Visa Waiver Form (I-94W) and their Advance Passenger
Information (API) as normal even though they have received ESTA clearance.
Kind regards
XXXXX
Personal Account Executive
PAMS (Personal Account Management Service )
Virgin Atlantic Airways - The Office (GNW) , Manor Royal ,Crawley
West Sussex.RH10 9NU
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Well, I'm off to LAX tomorrow (12th) and expect to be doing the documents service in flight i.e. distributing Customs Forms & I94W's.
I'll let you know how this went.
P.S. - My being away from the forum for a few hours should not be viewed as an incentive to vice! I may be tempted to log-on via ACARS just to check on you...
I'll let you know how this went.
P.S. - My being away from the forum for a few hours should not be viewed as an incentive to vice! I may be tempted to log-on via ACARS just to check on you...
CH3CH2OH
You don’t have to fill in the accommodation section before arrival in the US if you are on a fly-drive holiday. However, the immigration officer will ask for the address and telephone number of a hotel for the first night (even if you haven’t booked anywhere), so have a name ready.
There are a number of details that I can't find answers for. I haven't actually done the procedure yet.
1. Is it possible to apply "speculatively" now for an ESTA, or must you have a definite flight and arrival arranged first.
2. Why can't the form details be incorporated as part of the on-line booking by the airlines ? Why does it have to be a separate process.
3. Why is the ESTA a) Valid for 2 years, but then b) You need to visit the website for each arrival. Are these not somehow contradictory.
4. If making a second visit how do you cross-reference the original ESTA.
5. If during the 2 years you change your passport do you need a complete new application ?
6. As I understand it the "72 hours before" is just a recommendation and it will actually normally come back in seconds. So is this something that could end up being done at check-in if needed ? Or for F class passengers only ?
7. How do you demonstrate to check-in that you have an ESTA ? Do you just give a reference number ? What if you just make one up, or use somebody else's ? Are they checked on-line as part of the check-in process ? Likewise for on-line check-in, how do you demonstrate you have one ? And if you do on-line check-in is it going to be one of those things which, annoyingly, "Fast" Bag Drop ask to see all over again, slowing down the Bag Drop process ?
8. Will there still be an I-94W stub, or equivalent, to be handed in on departure from the US, or not ? Are the days of these over ?
Put the words "In Transit" if you will be leaving the US before the end of the arrival day. This has always been the case on paper I-94W forms. The officer will ask what you are doing, and that will be fine. They are used to it.
1. Is it possible to apply "speculatively" now for an ESTA, or must you have a definite flight and arrival arranged first.
2. Why can't the form details be incorporated as part of the on-line booking by the airlines ? Why does it have to be a separate process.
3. Why is the ESTA a) Valid for 2 years, but then b) You need to visit the website for each arrival. Are these not somehow contradictory.
4. If making a second visit how do you cross-reference the original ESTA.
5. If during the 2 years you change your passport do you need a complete new application ?
6. As I understand it the "72 hours before" is just a recommendation and it will actually normally come back in seconds. So is this something that could end up being done at check-in if needed ? Or for F class passengers only ?
7. How do you demonstrate to check-in that you have an ESTA ? Do you just give a reference number ? What if you just make one up, or use somebody else's ? Are they checked on-line as part of the check-in process ? Likewise for on-line check-in, how do you demonstrate you have one ? And if you do on-line check-in is it going to be one of those things which, annoyingly, "Fast" Bag Drop ask to see all over again, slowing down the Bag Drop process ?
8. Will there still be an I-94W stub, or equivalent, to be handed in on departure from the US, or not ? Are the days of these over ?
We will be arriving in Seattle and immediately heading by road to Vancouver, what should one do in this case
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In response to WHBM:
1. You can apply whenever you like. You should find various mentions in the ESTA documentation (on the USCBP site, rather than the ESTA application site) informing you that you need not have definite travel plans in order to apply. However, as its valid for 2 years, it makes sense to apply as late as possible to your next departure
2. No idea. Its stupid - you have to give all this data to the airlines already before you depart. Theoretically its the same thing... Its for the same purpose - to pre-screen passengers before they board a flight for the States
3. It's valid for 2 years, but you need to visit the site for each visit to update the flight information and your address for the first night. Again, see answer to 2 above.
4. I assume there is a unique identifier attached to each applicant - you are advised to note down the application number and so on in order to allow you to manage your ESTA in the future
5. I believe you just update the ESTA to show the new passport number.
6. The 72 hours is not a recommendation, more a "apply by" date. The idea is - you apply for ESTA, you get the response usually immediately. Some cases may need to be investigated, and therefore prompt a delayed response. And of course, if it comes back as denied you need to visit the nearest Embassy to enquire about it and possibly get a visa.
7. I'm not quite sure about this one. Part of the ESTA is the hope that one day it can replace the I-94W form and the current situation is that from today, you do not need to fill an I-94W form if the carrier can send and receive passenger ESTA statuses. I suppose there is some addition to the already present datalink carriers have with the US government for forwarding advance passenger information so at check-in, if the airline's systems check with the ESTA database and find no match, it can be investigated before the passenger passes through to Departures.
8. See 7 above. It all depends on this thing regarding carriers being able to send and receive passenger ESTA statuses. I think there is some paperless admin legislation attached/being attached to the ESTA programme so in theory at some point the I-94W could become non-existant and the ESTA operate similarly to the Australian electronic visa.
Various bits of information above are somewhere on this site: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/esta/
1. You can apply whenever you like. You should find various mentions in the ESTA documentation (on the USCBP site, rather than the ESTA application site) informing you that you need not have definite travel plans in order to apply. However, as its valid for 2 years, it makes sense to apply as late as possible to your next departure
2. No idea. Its stupid - you have to give all this data to the airlines already before you depart. Theoretically its the same thing... Its for the same purpose - to pre-screen passengers before they board a flight for the States
3. It's valid for 2 years, but you need to visit the site for each visit to update the flight information and your address for the first night. Again, see answer to 2 above.
4. I assume there is a unique identifier attached to each applicant - you are advised to note down the application number and so on in order to allow you to manage your ESTA in the future
5. I believe you just update the ESTA to show the new passport number.
6. The 72 hours is not a recommendation, more a "apply by" date. The idea is - you apply for ESTA, you get the response usually immediately. Some cases may need to be investigated, and therefore prompt a delayed response. And of course, if it comes back as denied you need to visit the nearest Embassy to enquire about it and possibly get a visa.
7. I'm not quite sure about this one. Part of the ESTA is the hope that one day it can replace the I-94W form and the current situation is that from today, you do not need to fill an I-94W form if the carrier can send and receive passenger ESTA statuses. I suppose there is some addition to the already present datalink carriers have with the US government for forwarding advance passenger information so at check-in, if the airline's systems check with the ESTA database and find no match, it can be investigated before the passenger passes through to Departures.
8. See 7 above. It all depends on this thing regarding carriers being able to send and receive passenger ESTA statuses. I think there is some paperless admin legislation attached/being attached to the ESTA programme so in theory at some point the I-94W could become non-existant and the ESTA operate similarly to the Australian electronic visa.
Various bits of information above are somewhere on this site: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/esta/
Paxing All Over The World
TS
I knew there was a reason they installed LAN connections at the seat in Biz... . Now, surely, you can trust us for just a teensy-weensy hop to little old LAX???? 
(Feels a bit like when teacher puts the class on best behaviour as they have to go pick something up from the office. 
)
I may be tempted to log-on ..
(Feels a bit like when teacher puts the class on best behaviour as they have to go pick something up from the office. )
Paxing All Over The World
It doesn't work jettesen - you don't fly.
The carrier will not confirm your booking until you have the ESTA ref number. As strake said:
Once you have an ESTA ref, you can update with subsequent journeys, for two years and then open a new request.
If you think that you are going to be travelling in the next couple of months, then get an Esta ref now.
The carrier will not confirm your booking until you have the ESTA ref number. As strake said:
Just to clarify, it's 72 hours before the first time you travel after 12th January 2009 . After that, you don't need to fill in the online form for two years.
If you think that you are going to be travelling in the next couple of months, then get an Esta ref now.
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Since I posted the answers to WHBM's questions I have since read that the 72 hour limit is advisory - you could apply in the check in queue from your PDA or laptop if you wanted to, but obviously it makes sense not to leave it too late incase the ESTA is denied and you have to go through the process of going to the Embassy etc etc etc
See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7823779.stm - half way down, just below the quote box
See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7823779.stm - half way down, just below the quote box
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In case it's of use to anyone:
Came through LHR with Northwest for a direct to MSP. On check-in I proudly stated I had filled in my ESTA form. The agent looked a bit blank and said "Yeah, we heard about that, started yesterday". They then asked me all the API stuff as usual and gave me an I94W to fill in.
So, I did and on arriving in the Immigration hall, noticed that everyone there had normal green meanies clutched in their hands. When I approached the desk, we were doing right fingers, right thumb then left finger, left thumb and mug-shot. I gave him the I-94W and had another go at the ESTA declaration. The response was "Huh?"
I get a strong feeling of disconnect between airlines, airports and Homeland Security on this, for the time being at least.
My advice, fill in the top part of the ESTA form to get your application number. If you can, go back to it when you know a flight number and address to update. Then fill in the I94W as normal. Just deal with it as more PITA "stuff" to get into the USA.
To update, a colleague who followed me in the next day said the Border people commented that they had seen the ESTA info for him on the screen.
I'm guessing that at the moment, they are running the whole system up to let everyone get used to it.
Came through LHR with Northwest for a direct to MSP. On check-in I proudly stated I had filled in my ESTA form. The agent looked a bit blank and said "Yeah, we heard about that, started yesterday". They then asked me all the API stuff as usual and gave me an I94W to fill in.
So, I did and on arriving in the Immigration hall, noticed that everyone there had normal green meanies clutched in their hands. When I approached the desk, we were doing right fingers, right thumb then left finger, left thumb and mug-shot. I gave him the I-94W and had another go at the ESTA declaration. The response was "Huh?"
I get a strong feeling of disconnect between airlines, airports and Homeland Security on this, for the time being at least.
My advice, fill in the top part of the ESTA form to get your application number. If you can, go back to it when you know a flight number and address to update. Then fill in the I94W as normal. Just deal with it as more PITA "stuff" to get into the USA.
To update, a colleague who followed me in the next day said the Border people commented that they had seen the ESTA info for him on the screen.
I'm guessing that at the moment, they are running the whole system up to let everyone get used to it.
Last edited by strake; 15th Jan 2009 at 13:00. Reason: Update
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ESTA - few days in
The new US immigration system (ESTA) has been up and running for a few days now. What are people's experiences of getting into America under the new regime? Do you still need to fill out the paper visa waiver form? Do the queues at airports seem to be shorter, or moving more quickly?
I am flying LHR to JFK in a few weeks and am keen to find out (a) whether the new system is a total nightmare, and (b) whether it might make the miserable process of lining up to get into the country quicker.
Thanks
I am flying LHR to JFK in a few weeks and am keen to find out (a) whether the new system is a total nightmare, and (b) whether it might make the miserable process of lining up to get into the country quicker.
Thanks
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They havn't really implemented it yet, I flew into Orlando on Monday afternoon and still had to fill out the visa waiver form, being January I didn't expect many delays at immigration anyway but from touchdown, through immigration, customs, bag collection to leaving the airport in the car was about 15 minutes.
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The system's actually been running since 1st August 08
It will take a while for the I-94W forms to get phased out - its all depends on a small part of the system, which is whether individual airlines can send and receive information relating to individual passenger's ESTA statuses. When that system is in place (if it isn't already) and up and running, those green forms will start to disappear.
From what I've heard there hasn't been any major problems so far so I guess no news is good news
It will take a while for the I-94W forms to get phased out - its all depends on a small part of the system, which is whether individual airlines can send and receive information relating to individual passenger's ESTA statuses. When that system is in place (if it isn't already) and up and running, those green forms will start to disappear.
From what I've heard there hasn't been any major problems so far so I guess no news is good news