Short notice of Update and Cancellation of ESTA
Thread Starter
Short notice of Update and Cancellation of ESTA
Good afternoon
A close member of my family who is due to fly to the USA with BA this weekend, and who does as far as can be determined without actually fronting up at the airport to check in, has just received what they accept as being a genuine email from US Customs and Border Protection stating:
"There has been an update to your ESTA Travel Authorization Status submitted on May 04, 2021. Please visit https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta to check your application.
ESTA Program Office
https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta
www.cbp.gov/esta
E-mail Security: If you are concerned about clicking the above link, ESTA can be accessed by typing https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov in the address bar of your browser."
On accessing the webpage concerned and entering their personal details, they receive the information that their ESTA - which they only updated in May - has expired and are clearly very concerned since there are two Club class seats at stake. Experience suggests that this may only be a temporary measure, applicable only until they are cleared for entry to the US as part of the check in procedure, but in the absence of access to any realistic means of checking this definitely, I should be most grateful for any more specific advice or interpretation that some of you more experienced travellers may be able to pass on - preferably today, off I may be so bold! They have of course tried top contact BA direct but have received nothing concrete.
With many thanks for your consideration
Jack
A close member of my family who is due to fly to the USA with BA this weekend, and who does as far as can be determined without actually fronting up at the airport to check in, has just received what they accept as being a genuine email from US Customs and Border Protection stating:
"There has been an update to your ESTA Travel Authorization Status submitted on May 04, 2021. Please visit https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta to check your application.
ESTA Program Office
https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta
www.cbp.gov/esta
E-mail Security: If you are concerned about clicking the above link, ESTA can be accessed by typing https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov in the address bar of your browser."
On accessing the webpage concerned and entering their personal details, they receive the information that their ESTA - which they only updated in May - has expired and are clearly very concerned since there are two Club class seats at stake. Experience suggests that this may only be a temporary measure, applicable only until they are cleared for entry to the US as part of the check in procedure, but in the absence of access to any realistic means of checking this definitely, I should be most grateful for any more specific advice or interpretation that some of you more experienced travellers may be able to pass on - preferably today, off I may be so bold! They have of course tried top contact BA direct but have received nothing concrete.
With many thanks for your consideration
Jack
Thread Starter
Jack
Son of Slot
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Thanks for flagging this up Union Jack and for DaveReidUK in his usual helpful way. This sounds like a scam. I strongly suspect that the link will say they can fix it for a fee.
UJ please give us feedback after they have travelled, to say whether this is yet another scam.
UJ please give us feedback after they have travelled, to say whether this is yet another scam.
Thread Starter
Thanks for flagging this up Union Jack and for DaveReidUK in his usual helpful way. This sounds like a scam. I strongly suspect that the link will say they can fix it for a fee.
UJ please give us feedback after they have travelled, to say whether this is yet another scam.
UJ please give us feedback after they have travelled, to say whether this is yet another scam.
Jack
Might be a scam , perhaps a phone call to the US embassy in London might clarify matters ?
easier said than done I know .
Interestingly you mentioned a tight transit time,
it is more than likely that considerably more time than usual might be spent in transit, Covid checks etc. BA will most likely not have considered this .
Such a pity these days that we all have to be cynically Scam aware and expect indifferent customer service as a matter of course, only to be delighted when confronted with what would be considered thoughtful and efficient customer care. Good luck !
easier said than done I know .
Interestingly you mentioned a tight transit time,
it is more than likely that considerably more time than usual might be spent in transit, Covid checks etc. BA will most likely not have considered this .
Such a pity these days that we all have to be cynically Scam aware and expect indifferent customer service as a matter of course, only to be delighted when confronted with what would be considered thoughtful and efficient customer care. Good luck !
I didn’t realise it was such short notice , apologies . I would say go for it without completing any additional ESTA application ,
At check in it will be clear if the ESTA is valid or not , any proof of the update made in May would be helpful , then leave it to the Airline to sort it out .
At check in it will be clear if the ESTA is valid or not , any proof of the update made in May would be helpful , then leave it to the Airline to sort it out .
While I'm not suggesting that it applies here, there are documented cases of the US cancelling an ESTA if they believe that the individual in question is attempting to enter the USA in contravention of the current Covid regulations.
Maybe some crossed lines somewhere ?
Maybe some crossed lines somewhere ?
Thread Starter
VMT for all the helpful and thoughtful comments, which I have passed on accordingly. The plan is to go ahead on the lines kindly suggested by Jack D, and they are mentally geared for either sorrow or, more hopefully, success.
Jack
Jack
Did they check in online, but are allowed to enter the US under the current restrictions? OLC is often the problem for canceled ESTA, but can be sorted out at the airport check-in. Arrive early though!
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I would take it as a legitimate email. Two questions:
1) Are they actually allowed to enter the US now? Assuming yes:
2) Did they have a booking for some flights that might prevent legal entry to the US (for example from Schengen to US in the past 14 days). Even if they didn’t use the ticket and/or the flight was in the end cancelled, I have heard of airlines pushing the PNR data leading to the cancellation of some totally unconnected ESTAs.
Get to the airport very early and expect to apply for a new ESTA (praying it is processed quickly). It may make sense to apply already now.
1) Are they actually allowed to enter the US now? Assuming yes:
2) Did they have a booking for some flights that might prevent legal entry to the US (for example from Schengen to US in the past 14 days). Even if they didn’t use the ticket and/or the flight was in the end cancelled, I have heard of airlines pushing the PNR data leading to the cancellation of some totally unconnected ESTAs.
Get to the airport very early and expect to apply for a new ESTA (praying it is processed quickly). It may make sense to apply already now.
A number of reputable sites all give this information:-
https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov
Every other website, whether it ends with .com, .org, .us, .esta, or any other, is not official, and does not operate on behalf of the United States government. Remember that all of the US official websites end with .gov.
The official ESTA charges the applicants with a fee of $14.00, which includes a fee of $10.00, collected pursuant to the Travel Promotion Act (TPA), and a fee of $4.00 for administering ESTA.
The Official ESTA Website
Many other websites are operating under the claims that they are the official ESTA website, which is not true. There is only one official ESTA website, and that is:https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov
Every other website, whether it ends with .com, .org, .us, .esta, or any other, is not official, and does not operate on behalf of the United States government. Remember that all of the US official websites end with .gov.
The official ESTA charges the applicants with a fee of $14.00, which includes a fee of $10.00, collected pursuant to the Travel Promotion Act (TPA), and a fee of $4.00 for administering ESTA.
Out of interest I tried applying for an ESTA today. I didn't go anything like the whole way through but then I was expecting to be told about the restrictions on entering the USA up front, but I wasn't. So then I looked around to see if I was correct and that there are still restrictions on entering the USA. It too me a while but on this page ESTA FAQ under the heading
"Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) - Presidential Proclamations 9984, 9992, 9993 and 9996 temporarily suspend the entry into the United States of most individuals, other than U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, who were physically present in mainland China, Iran, Ireland, the United Kingdom, or the Schengen Area in the 14 days preceding their attempted entry. Any traveler with a valid ESTA who is subject to the Proclamations and who attempts to travel the United States in violation of the Proclamations will have their ESTA canceled. ESTA will not refund applications that are canceled due to the Proclamations. Travelers who have questions about whether they are subject to, or exempted from, the Proclamations should refer to the Proclamations and consult with the U.S. Department of State and the air carrier, as appropriate, in advance of travel to avoid travel disruptions. For more information, please visit the ESTA website."
I'm going to suggest that the system allows you to apply for or modify an ESTA but then the backend checks determine you're not allowed in and they cancel the ESTA.
"Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) UpdatesElectronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) UpdatesElectronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) Updates"
I found:"Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) - Presidential Proclamations 9984, 9992, 9993 and 9996 temporarily suspend the entry into the United States of most individuals, other than U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, who were physically present in mainland China, Iran, Ireland, the United Kingdom, or the Schengen Area in the 14 days preceding their attempted entry. Any traveler with a valid ESTA who is subject to the Proclamations and who attempts to travel the United States in violation of the Proclamations will have their ESTA canceled. ESTA will not refund applications that are canceled due to the Proclamations. Travelers who have questions about whether they are subject to, or exempted from, the Proclamations should refer to the Proclamations and consult with the U.S. Department of State and the air carrier, as appropriate, in advance of travel to avoid travel disruptions. For more information, please visit the ESTA website."
I'm going to suggest that the system allows you to apply for or modify an ESTA but then the backend checks determine you're not allowed in and they cancel the ESTA.
Applying for an ESTA is no problem since you need an ESTA when travelling on an NIE as well. I had ESTA cancelled when I checked in online, but I could still travel. Problem was that the system automatically canceled my ESTA once my passenger details were transferred upon OLC. Now I check in at the desk and never had a problem again.
I will travel to USA GLA-DUB-ORD in September using my Spouse exemption since my wife is a USA citizen - see Proclamation.
I renewed my ESTA yesterday then phoned CBP in Dublin + 353-1248-0300. They confirmed the supporting docs I would have to produce to support my exemption at preclearance
Nomilk - thanks for the tip about avoiding OLC
I renewed my ESTA yesterday then phoned CBP in Dublin + 353-1248-0300. They confirmed the supporting docs I would have to produce to support my exemption at preclearance
Nomilk - thanks for the tip about avoiding OLC
Thread Starter
Apologies for not reporting the outcome of my relatives abortive sortie to Heathrow on Saturday - I have had to wait until the tears stopped flowing.....
They duly rolled up to a fairly empty Terminal 5, where they were very quickly assisted by very friendly courteous and polite BA staff, including a senior supervisor, who tried valiantly by telephone to persuade the resident US Homeland Security team that they should be allowed to travel, but to no avail. The Homeland Security team did, however, take the trouble to pass on via the BA supervisor a preferred email contact in the US Embassy to whom they said formal application should be made for a visa waiver or a National Interest Exception (NIE) in the hope that that approach might prove more fruitful.
They apparently struck whilst the iron was hot by submitting such an application on Sunday, but have now heard through a genuinely fairly personal and courteous email that they regrettably still do not come up to the bar, which is quite interesting since I had felt that they had a reasonably strong case. The Embassy email also contained some advice on how travel from the UK to the US through a third country might be possible under certain fairly stringent conditions, but perfectly understandably equally took great care to point out that they could not comment in any way on the means or feasibility of doing so.
The couple concerned completely respect the decision, although frankly and understandably regretful that they might have saved themselves some heartache - and money! - if they had submitted their evidence well in advance but, to be fair, some of the more telling medical evidence was of very recent origin. In accepting the outcome, they can at least comfort themselves that they would not have been allowed to travel whether before or after any application and, as they said themselves, they had nothing better to do on Saturday!
The good news, if any, is slightly ironic in that they have both been advised virtually simultaneously that they have been conditionally approved for Global Entry enrollment, with the added bonus that the necessary interview for full approval can now be conducted through the Enrollment on Arrival, scheme, now available at a fairly extensive list of US airports and of course Dublin and Shannon. Regrettably, no response was received as to whether they could or should reapply for a new ESTA.....
In summary, the original ESTA emails were indeed kosher, the bar for the award of a visa waiver or an NIE is and remains very high but, like so many things in life, it can be worth a try.
With grateful thanks for all the helpful and interesting input, some of which such as Hartington's is pretty accurate - and I also had to smile at the input from someone with the moniker "Farci" - my relatives were also stuffed....
Jack
They duly rolled up to a fairly empty Terminal 5, where they were very quickly assisted by very friendly courteous and polite BA staff, including a senior supervisor, who tried valiantly by telephone to persuade the resident US Homeland Security team that they should be allowed to travel, but to no avail. The Homeland Security team did, however, take the trouble to pass on via the BA supervisor a preferred email contact in the US Embassy to whom they said formal application should be made for a visa waiver or a National Interest Exception (NIE) in the hope that that approach might prove more fruitful.
They apparently struck whilst the iron was hot by submitting such an application on Sunday, but have now heard through a genuinely fairly personal and courteous email that they regrettably still do not come up to the bar, which is quite interesting since I had felt that they had a reasonably strong case. The Embassy email also contained some advice on how travel from the UK to the US through a third country might be possible under certain fairly stringent conditions, but perfectly understandably equally took great care to point out that they could not comment in any way on the means or feasibility of doing so.
The couple concerned completely respect the decision, although frankly and understandably regretful that they might have saved themselves some heartache - and money! - if they had submitted their evidence well in advance but, to be fair, some of the more telling medical evidence was of very recent origin. In accepting the outcome, they can at least comfort themselves that they would not have been allowed to travel whether before or after any application and, as they said themselves, they had nothing better to do on Saturday!
The good news, if any, is slightly ironic in that they have both been advised virtually simultaneously that they have been conditionally approved for Global Entry enrollment, with the added bonus that the necessary interview for full approval can now be conducted through the Enrollment on Arrival, scheme, now available at a fairly extensive list of US airports and of course Dublin and Shannon. Regrettably, no response was received as to whether they could or should reapply for a new ESTA.....
In summary, the original ESTA emails were indeed kosher, the bar for the award of a visa waiver or an NIE is and remains very high but, like so many things in life, it can be worth a try.
With grateful thanks for all the helpful and interesting input, some of which such as Hartington's is pretty accurate - and I also had to smile at the input from someone with the moniker "Farci" - my relatives were also stuffed....
Jack
...who tried valiantly by telephone to persuade the resident US Homeland Security team that they should be allowed to travel, but to no avail. The Homeland Security team did, however, take the trouble to pass on via the BA supervisor a preferred email contact in the US Embassy to whom they said formal application should be made for a visa waiver or a National Interest Exception (NIE) in the hope that that approach might prove more fruitful.
They apparently struck whilst the iron was hot by submitting such an application on Sunday, but have now heard through a genuinely fairly personal and courteous email that they regrettably still do not come up to the bar, which is quite interesting since I had felt that they had a reasonably strong case. ...
Regrettably, no response was received as to whether they could or should reapply for a new ESTA.....
In summary, the original ESTA emails were indeed kosher, the bar for the award of a visa waiver or an NIE is and remains very high but, like so many things in life, it can be worth a try.
They apparently struck whilst the iron was hot by submitting such an application on Sunday, but have now heard through a genuinely fairly personal and courteous email that they regrettably still do not come up to the bar, which is quite interesting since I had felt that they had a reasonably strong case. ...
Regrettably, no response was received as to whether they could or should reapply for a new ESTA.....
In summary, the original ESTA emails were indeed kosher, the bar for the award of a visa waiver or an NIE is and remains very high but, like so many things in life, it can be worth a try.
It sounds like a fairly tough undertaking to provide the intensive paperwork for an NIE on the spot at the airport.