Advanced information required before travelling to USA - ESTA

[Zero]

Anyone else heard about this yet?

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has introduced a new Electronic System for Travel Authorisation, known as ESTA which will have a major impact on all EU passport holders travelling to the USA in 2009.

The ESTA means that people travelling to the USA who currently do not require a visa (most EU passport holders), will in the future be required to receive prior approval from the Dept of Homeland Security before they travel. Any person travelling to the USA without prior approval - will be refused entry to the USA.

This is not a full blown approval either, it is purely preliminary, individuals may still be turned away upon arrival should the Dept of Homeland Security feel it necessary.

http://www.dhs.gov/xprevprot/program...365595781.shtm

http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wi...hout_1990.html

[gogs67]

Yeh, it's just the same as the yellow form you fill in on the plane, but now you need to do it on line beforehand!

[Gorilla]

i saw a little about this when i booked my flights to the USA next year but i didn't read it properly because it said i could fill it in later. i'll have to look into it properly.

[Marrers]

So when does all this come into effect? I didn't see anything about it when I booked my flights recently.

[veganbikerboy]

yeah I had to do one of those when I went last year; I dont recall anything about it, which probably means it wasnt too much hassle.

Sorry, thats probably of no use to you

are you scarad they wont let you in?

[Zero]

After January 12th 2009 it is mandatory, until then it is voluntary.

[gogs67]

I was actually far more pissed off having to do a retina scan every time, than filling any form in!
Maybe that's just me though, you can say what they want to hear on a form but i find it far more invasive having my eye documented.

[bradders]

they're running some risks on this policy as it happens as they could lose their simple visa-waiver status with the Schengen and co-operating nations. So much for working to reduce the boundaries to free international movement.

[Zero]

You can apply here for the aurthorization:
https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/esta.h...B-1707EA45D6A0

To apply you will need the information mentioned here

Those of you travelling to the USA in 2009 I suggest you apply for this now, just in case they do request any additional information.

[emzy1985]

If you are animal rights affliated.....don't bother! (For your own safety)

[Gorilla]

can anyone help please?

i'm travelling from the UK to the US at the end of April - then going to Canada, and then back into the US.

i've filled out an advance information form for my first entry to the States from the UK. but i can't work out if i need to fill out another one for my re-entry from Canada. the website is totally unhelpful and only seems to have info for entry from Canada if you're a Canadian citizen.

the website seems to imply that if you fill out another form it will cancel out the original one. i can't work out if having the one form is enough for both entries, as i'll be entering from a different country and staying somewhere different.

does anyone know?

[bradders]

not terribly sure, best bet is to ring the embassy.
I seem to remember the situation with the waiver forms being that you enter on a form, hand over the green slip to check in going to canada, then you get another waiver going back to the us and surrender the new green slip going back to england. I would assume that it would be a similar situation and classed as two trips to the US.

[Zero]

Don't call the Embassy, it's £1.20 per minute. Here is all you need to know:

Q: How long is a travel authorization via ESTA™ valid?
A: Each approved ESTA™ application generally will be valid for a period of two years and allows for multiple visits to the United States within that period without having to apply for another ESTA™. Travelers whose ESTA™ applications are approved, but whose passports will expire in less than two years, will receive an ESTA™ valid until the passport’s expiration date.
A new travel authorization is required if (1) the traveler is issued a new passport; (2) the traveler changes his or her name; (3) the traveler changes his or her gender; (4) the traveler’s country of citizenship changes; or (5) the circumstances underlying the traveler’s previous responses to any of the ESTA™ application questions requiring a “yes” or “no” response have changed.

F.A.Q's regarding ESTA

[bradders]

ignore me that's better advice

[Marrers]

I did mine this afternoon, your post reminded me gorilla.
(It is making me wait for approval though - from the wording it looks like some people get approval straight away. Hope that's not a bad sign!

[Gorilla]

thanks Zero, i don't know why i couldn't find that on their website

mine went straight through Marrers, but i don't suppose it's anything to worry about.

[Marrers]

I'm approved now. Maybe it was something to do with the way I wrote down the address in their boxes. (I find it hard to know how to write addresses from other countries unless I'm able to copy it down directly from someone who does know.)

[Gorilla]

glad to hear they're letting you in!