ESTA - Q & A's (Merged)
Paxing All Over The World
The summation of our knowledge in this forum, is in this active thread:
http://www.pprune.org/passengers-slf...-q-merged.html
http://www.pprune.org/passengers-slf...-q-merged.html
Join Date: May 2008
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Sounds like Chrome has the same problem as the latest version of Safari regarding encrypted sites - the encryption in Safari has been upgraded beyond what websites currently used causing compatibility problems
ESTA - a really good idea constrained by the usual terminal thickness of American bureaucrats.
Applied for and was granted approval in December, tried to update my profile for a trip in April
LH422/09APR
So you look at the online help function
No format outline. Nothing
I gave up after trying a range of permutations, but you'd think that even DHSS would think of conforming to IATA/ICAO flight numbering conventions.
Then again - maybe not from an organisation that assigns North Dakota a higher alphabetical sort than New Hampshire in a drop down list.
Thinks: maybe the sort's not alphabetical after all. Maybe it's based on population numbers. Or mean annual temperature. Or the height of the capital above sea level...
(Someone I once worked with reckoned that the USA was run by about 10,000 people who were just so much smarter than anyone else on the planet. And the other 300 million were a bunch of lemmings...)
Applied for and was granted approval in December, tried to update my profile for a trip in April
LH422/09APR
Flight Number contains invalid characters.
Enter the flight number for the airline on which you will be traveling to the United States, if your travel information is available. The flight number is optional to complete the application.
I gave up after trying a range of permutations, but you'd think that even DHSS would think of conforming to IATA/ICAO flight numbering conventions.
Then again - maybe not from an organisation that assigns North Dakota a higher alphabetical sort than New Hampshire in a drop down list.
Thinks: maybe the sort's not alphabetical after all. Maybe it's based on population numbers. Or mean annual temperature. Or the height of the capital above sea level...
(Someone I once worked with reckoned that the USA was run by about 10,000 people who were just so much smarter than anyone else on the planet. And the other 300 million were a bunch of lemmings...)
Last edited by RevMan2; 16th Feb 2009 at 12:15.
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I nearly got caught out as well , when you type esta into google the first site I got up wanted to charge $495 dollars to fill in the form for me 
I personally can't believe that the online process checks anything. My clearance came back within seconds. I don't think the form asks the right questions anyway, basically its name and passport number and a load of questions that no one in their right mind will answer yes to!
You'd think that just from my date of birth the system could figure out that there is no way I could have been a member of the nazi party in the 40s!
Still it didn't ask for my maiden name , this being the root of my potential problems , so I'm happy
I personally can't believe that the online process checks anything. My clearance came back within seconds. I don't think the form asks the right questions anyway, basically its name and passport number and a load of questions that no one in their right mind will answer yes to!
You'd think that just from my date of birth the system could figure out that there is no way I could have been a member of the nazi party in the 40s!
Still it didn't ask for my maiden name , this being the root of my potential problems , so I'm happy
Someone asked 'what happens if you change your passport?'
You can't update ESTA with the new passport number. You have to apply again.
How do I know? How do you think I found out?
Getting a replacement passport in Newport was a doddle. 1130 am appointment. Arrive 1125, out by 1133. Passport delivered by courier 6 days later (they only guarantee 7!) Don't figure on sitting around there....although they aren't currently very busy. But still very friendly, polite and helpful.
You can't update ESTA with the new passport number. You have to apply again.
How do I know? How do you think I found out?
Getting a replacement passport in Newport was a doddle. 1130 am appointment. Arrive 1125, out by 1133. Passport delivered by courier 6 days later (they only guarantee 7!) Don't figure on sitting around there....although they aren't currently very busy. But still very friendly, polite and helpful.
Join Date: Oct 1999
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Just to clarify:
You actually DONT have to update your ESTA with the new trip information. Its not mandatory. Once you have it, you have it for two years, then you apply again. They like you to update it but you dont have to. You also dont have to show your ESTA authorisation number.
I didnt read the thing properly and wrongly assumed they would email me. (They dont). It wont now let me update my trip without the number. And if you try to enter your passport again as a new number it will tell you that its already in the system. But I have since been across the pond and it wasnt an issue, even when the destination was different. Everyone was very polite and helpful.
You still have to do the airline pre-auth and fill in the green VWP form.
If anyone knows how to get your ESTA authorisation number again without waiting two years for it to run out, do tell.....
You actually DONT have to update your ESTA with the new trip information. Its not mandatory. Once you have it, you have it for two years, then you apply again. They like you to update it but you dont have to. You also dont have to show your ESTA authorisation number.
I didnt read the thing properly and wrongly assumed they would email me. (They dont). It wont now let me update my trip without the number. And if you try to enter your passport again as a new number it will tell you that its already in the system. But I have since been across the pond and it wasnt an issue, even when the destination was different. Everyone was very polite and helpful.
You still have to do the airline pre-auth and fill in the green VWP form.
If anyone knows how to get your ESTA authorisation number again without waiting two years for it to run out, do tell.....
Join Date: Jan 2004
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After initial good news of getting permission to travel it was a different matter on arrival in BOS.
Usual questions at immigration, fingerprints etc... then excuse me Sir just one more step and you are clear to enter the USA please follow my colleague to Secondary Immigration. Went through all the usual questions and answers again except he asked me if I had ever applied for diplomatic immunity in the USA - no I said, yes you have he said, no I said, yes you have he said it is on your ESTA documentation.
After a LOT of further questioning during which I struggled to bite my tongue, due to the line of questioning in front of all around, I was let in.
I now know why my original ESTA application was refused. I waited 10 days and reapplied and was accepted, I do not believe the system removed (or wanted to remove) my error on the first application.
All my fault I know but the system could surely be made more user friendly. Especially so as if you make a mistake and get the Homeland Security guard who just got ditched by his wife it may cause a lot of unecessary grief.
I repeat my original advice - check, check and check again before submitting your application.
Usual questions at immigration, fingerprints etc... then excuse me Sir just one more step and you are clear to enter the USA please follow my colleague to Secondary Immigration. Went through all the usual questions and answers again except he asked me if I had ever applied for diplomatic immunity in the USA - no I said, yes you have he said, no I said, yes you have he said it is on your ESTA documentation.
After a LOT of further questioning during which I struggled to bite my tongue, due to the line of questioning in front of all around, I was let in.
I now know why my original ESTA application was refused. I waited 10 days and reapplied and was accepted, I do not believe the system removed (or wanted to remove) my error on the first application.
All my fault I know but the system could surely be made more user friendly. Especially so as if you make a mistake and get the Homeland Security guard who just got ditched by his wife it may cause a lot of unecessary grief.
I repeat my original advice - check, check and check again before submitting your application.
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Even more confusing today
My Brother who is UK by birth but is married to a US National has a UK passport but a permanent residency status over there.
ESTA - yes or no?
Forgot to add airlines are particularly unhelpful on this
My Brother who is UK by birth but is married to a US National has a UK passport but a permanent residency status over there.
ESTA - yes or no?
Forgot to add airlines are particularly unhelpful on this
Join Date: Feb 2000
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FYI - As of 12th March completion of the online ESTA process has become mandatory - no ESTA, no boarding an aircraft heading for the USA, no excuses. Customers attempting to check-in without an ESTA are being sent off to an internet cafe to complete the formalities.
candoo - does yo bro have a resident alien green card? If yes, no ESTA is required. If not, has he previously been completing a green I94W or a white I94 immigration form - if green, ESTA is now required, if white, ESTA is not required.
candoo - does yo bro have a resident alien green card? If yes, no ESTA is required. If not, has he previously been completing a green I94W or a white I94 immigration form - if green, ESTA is now required, if white, ESTA is not required.
Join Date: Dec 2005
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ESTA
Very strange, planned my latest trip and got the ESTA for myself and herindoors, MAN-LAS and back, great time but NOBODY, ANYWHERE asked to see said form, not before boarding in Man and certainly not at LAS going in, just all the usual forms as before,prints etc... no mention of ESTA. Oh and btw the best site to get the form is BA, log on and scroll down or search ESTA and as the man says 15 seconds later it's through, no errors though, that's the hitch. No doubt someone will eventually tell the dept of imm and nat. that there is a new form from the visa waiver countries. good luck to you all, oh and a "Happy St Patricks Day" tomorrow. Capt Ronweb.
. Capt Ronweb.
FYI - As of 12th March completion of the online ESTA process has become mandatory
Got to compliment the guys at EWR & ATL on the immigration desks always polite, helpful & willing to answer questions. Just wish the guys at the major UK gateway airports could match them.
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FYI - As of 12th March completion of the online ESTA process has become mandatory
Slightly different note - in all honesty, I'm surprised they expected to do away with the I-94s so soon. I expected it to be late summer at least...
Join Date: Feb 2000
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ESTA was planned to be mandatory from 12th January, but wasn't - largely because of the poor publicity on the subject: It was estimated that approx 30% of passengers on the day knew nothing about the new system. Therefore, an ESTA amnesty was set in force i.e. although it was strongly recommended to have completed ESTA, it was not mandatory. The amnesty period ended on 12th March and ESTA completion is now mandatory.
Completion in-flight of the I94W will continue for the foreseeable future - remember that ESTA is neither a Visa nor a permit to enter the USA: It is simply a permission to board an aircraft with a destination in the USA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization).
It is also worth remembering that ESTA completion is only required for people travelling under the VWP (Visa Waiver Program) i.e. those completing the Green I94W forms in-flight. Everybody else (Immigrant & Non-Immigrant Visa Holders, US & Canadian Citizens, US Resident Aliens etc.) does not have to complete ESTA.
Completion in-flight of the I94W will continue for the foreseeable future - remember that ESTA is neither a Visa nor a permit to enter the USA: It is simply a permission to board an aircraft with a destination in the USA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization).
It is also worth remembering that ESTA completion is only required for people travelling under the VWP (Visa Waiver Program) i.e. those completing the Green I94W forms in-flight. Everybody else (Immigrant & Non-Immigrant Visa Holders, US & Canadian Citizens, US Resident Aliens etc.) does not have to complete ESTA.
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Brother got by with his permanent residency.
I know from experience that they do not need to ask you for your ESTA details as at primary immigration this is picked up. If you have done it correctly you would never even know it.
It is still a bit hit and miss, this has to be one of the most badly advertised procedures adopted of recent times.
I know from experience that they do not need to ask you for your ESTA details as at primary immigration this is picked up. If you have done it correctly you would never even know it.
It is still a bit hit and miss, this has to be one of the most badly advertised procedures adopted of recent times.
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When we went to vegas last week the guy at YYZ seemed confused by the extra piece of paper we offered him. When we told him it was our ESTA authorisation he asked us " how did you find out about that?"
He hadn't heard of PPRUNE either !!
Still he was a bit more clued up than the queue managing muppets at Pearson, who when looking at our paperwork to see if we were worthy of joining the queue, looked at our green form and insisted " you don't need that" and was about to remove it from us, the "yes I do" "no you don't anymore" continued for a few moments until I tapped the very obvious EU passport in my hand and pointed out " I'm not a Canadian citiizen!"
I'm sure this was why the DHS guy was actually nice to us , after witnessing this !
He hadn't heard of PPRUNE either !!
Still he was a bit more clued up than the queue managing muppets at Pearson, who when looking at our paperwork to see if we were worthy of joining the queue, looked at our green form and insisted " you don't need that" and was about to remove it from us, the "yes I do" "no you don't anymore" continued for a few moments until I tapped the very obvious EU passport in my hand and pointed out " I'm not a Canadian citiizen!"
I'm sure this was why the DHS guy was actually nice to us , after witnessing this !
